India starts registration of hand transplantation patients

India establishes first hand transplant registry to facilitate transparent organ allocation and boost donation and utilization nationwide.

India has set up a registry for the first time for patients requiring hand transplantation, with officials saying it will facilitate the allocation of the donated organ in a transparent manner and on a priority basis.

The registration will be accepted in the national registry maintained by the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO), which falls under the aegis of the Union Health Ministry.

"Establishment of a registry and pan-India allocation of hands on a priority basis will give boost to the donation as well as the proper utilisation of the donated hands," Dr. Subramania Iyer, Professor and Chairman, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Head and Neck Surgery, Amrita Hospitals and School of Medicine, Kochi, said.

Dr. Iyer led the team that conducted India's first hand transplant in 2015.

NOTTO Director Anil Kumar recently wrote to the all States and Union Territories informing them about the registry and told them to disseminate the information to all hand transplant centres and hospitals for compliance.

According to the letter, the registration for hand (composite tissue) transplant option is not available in "Subject Demography Management" in the national registry on the NOTTO web portal.

"Therefore, it has now been decided by the competent authority, that all the hand transplant centres/hospitals should register such patients/recipients requiring hands for transplants under the category 'bone' of the tissue section in subject demography management," the letter said.