The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare announced that the earlier provision under the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) guidelines that people beyond 65 years of age could not receive cadaver organ transplants had been removed.
The cadaveric donation comprises organ donation—that is, taking organs (heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, pancreas) from brain-dead people, as well as tissue donation, meaning taking tissues (skin, corneas, tendons, bone) from brain-dead as well as heart dead people.
The Minister stated that the government has decided to do away with the maximum age ceiling.
Now, people beyond 65 years in need of an organ donation will also be eligible to get one.
From now an individual of any age can register for an organ transplant
The Minister mentioned that the age limit provided under the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) guidelines violate the Right to Life.
Earlier an organ recipient could register for a prospective transplant in the domicile State.
States like Gujarat had made it mandatory for registered patients to furnish a domicile certificate to be eligible for a transplant.
In November 2022, the Gujarat High Court quashed the discriminatory policy of the State government.
In line with the High Court judgment, the Indian government has decided to do away with the domicile policy and all States have agreed on this decision.
Now a patient irrespective of domicile State can register in any other State for a transplant.
The patient will be allotted a unique ID by NOTTO on registering which will get carried forward even if the patient changes multiple hospitals in different States.
At present, many States like Kerala and Maharashtra have been charging fees ranging from ₹5,000 to ₹10,000 for registering organ transplant patients.
The Health Ministry has asked the States to stop charging registration fees to patients.
These steps have been taken under the Union Health Ministry's vision of a ‘One Nation One Policy,’ for organ donation and transplantation.
