National Organ & Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) and the Need for Better Data Sharing

 

The Union Government has raised serious concerns regarding hospitals failing to share data on organ transplantation activities with the National Organ & Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO). This lack of compliance affects transparency and efficiency in India's organ transplant system.
 

What is NOTTO?
 

The National Organ & Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) serves as the apex body for implementing the National Organ Transplant Program (NOTP). It functions under the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and operates in accordance with the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOTA), 1994.
 

Key Roles and Functions of NOTTO:
 

• Establishes a systematic and transparent process for organ procurement and distribution across India.
• Maintains a national registry of donors and recipients for organs and tissues.
• Ensures ethical and regulated transplantation practices across hospitals.
   

Divisions of NOTTO:
 

1. National Human Organ and Tissue Removal and Storage Network – Manages the nationwide framework for retrieval, storage, and distribution of organs.
2. National Biomaterial Centre (National Tissue Bank) – Responsible for collecting, storing, and supplying tissues for transplantation and medical research.