Panel to form rules for organ retrieval centres

In a bid to boost the cadaver donation programme, the state government’s expert committee will come up with a list of rules and regulations for new organ retrieval centres, in a fortnight. Currently, 28 hospitals on the list of Zonal Transplant co-ordination committee (ZTCC) are involved in organ retrieval.

Two days back, the state government passed a resolution designating nursing homes, with an ICU and operation theatre, as retrieval centres to remove the organs from brain dead patients. The state government is yet to identify such hospitals.

This past week, DNA has highlighted the problems and the journey of patients who are on the waiting list for organ donation. According to a health department official, “Most of the smaller hospitals have adequate infrastructure but no license to retrieve organs. Due to the new rules, once these small hospitals are designated as retrieval centres they will be able to remove organs from the brain dead patients which will benefit people who are in the waiting lists for getting organ. The distribution will controlled by ZTCC.”

“We are in the process of framing the rules and regulation for such centres. Rules will be framed within a fortnight, then it will be very easy for state government to identify the centres. Once the number of retrieval centres increases, we will get more cadaver organs. The smaller hospitals can take the help from the nearest retrieval centres experts,” said Dr Gustad Davar, president, ZTCC. He added, “A policy will soon be issued on new centres receiving funds for maintaining the brain dead patients till their organs have been retrieved.”

An expert committee meeting was held at Hinduja Hospital on Saturday to discuss the new rules.