Health Ministry warns of possible commercial dealings in organ/tissue transplantation of foreigners in India
The Hindu
Health Ministry alerts Ministry of External Affairs about possible violations in organ transplantation of foreigners, seeks support for monitoring.
Aimed at preventing any possible commercial dealings in organ or tissue transplantation of foreigners, Health Secretary Apurva Chandra, in a written communication, alerted the Ministry of External Affairs of possible violations and asked support to establish systems for monitoring the process.
The Health Ministry said many foreign nationals were coming to India for various types of organ transplantation. They could be a prospective recipient or donor of organs and might be visiting on a medical/attendant visa.
“A recent media report has highlighted that in some cases the veracity of the documents to establish relationship between the donor and the recipient, their identity documents, proof of residence etc cannot be established confidently and the same may not be genuine,’’ noted Mr. Chandra in his January 30 letter to Vinay Kwatra, Foreign Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs.
Listing out the provisions specifically for foreigners under the Transplantation of Human Organ and Tissues Act (THOTA), 1994, the Ministry has sought that these rules be disseminated to all embassies/ missions of foreign countries located in India and also to concerned government, in case embassy/mission is not existing in India.
The Health Ministry has also requested that a nodal officer may be identified by the Ministry of External Affairs for coordinating the organ donation and transplantation of foreigners and the same may also be communicated to National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO).
Meanwhile, India has now adopted the “One Nation, One Policy” for organ donation and transplantation.
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