ORGAN TRANSPLANTATION : NATIONAL
NEWS: In a first, Union
Health Ministry issues guidelines for organ transport across the country
WHAT’S IN THE NEWS?
The Standard Operating Procedure lists guidelines
for the transportation of live human organs from the point of their harvest to
their destination, by various modes of transport
Transportation
of Live Human Organs: Guidelines and Procedures
SOPs for
Transporting Human Organs
- Purpose and Aim:
- Maximize utilization of organs.
- Provide a roadmap for organ retrieval and
transplant institutions.
- Ensure adherence to best practices and
quality standards.
- Air Transport:
- Airlines can request priority take-off and
landing from Air Traffic Control.
- Front-row seats can be arranged for medical
personnel.
- Priority reservation and late check-in for
medical staff.
- Source airport to inform destination airport
for facilitating arrival.
- Possible in-flight announcement of organ
transport.
- Trolleys for transporting organ boxes from
aircraft to ambulance.
- Green corridors defined for unobstructed
transport from ambulance to aircraft.
- Ground Transport:
- "Green corridors" for ambulances
and other vehicles upon request.
- "One Trigger System" to initiate
organ transport with credible authorization.
- Nodal police officers for handling green
corridor logistics in each state/city.
- Sensitization of state traffic police on the
importance of organ transport.
- Metro Transport:
- Metro Traffic Control to prioritize transit
for organ transport.
- Metro security to escort the clinical team
and organ box.
- Specific area cordoned off for organ box
within the metro.
- Security Hold Area (SHA) to facilitate smooth
transit.
- Correct positioning and securement of organ
box with a seat belt.
- General Guidelines:
- Essential protocols for road, train, and
shipping transport.
- Development in consultation with NITI Aayog,
concerned ministries, and transplant professionals.
- Criticality and Coordination:
- Transport of live organs is critical due to
limited shelf life.
- Requires coordination between various
agencies.