Government develops standard operating procedures to speed up organ transport

The federal government has finalized a uniform policy to eliminate the need for organ testing at airports and speed up organ transplants nationwide.

The policy, prepared by federal policy think tank Niti Aayog in consultation with the ministries of civil aviation, housing and urban development, railways, transport, highways, ports and shipping, home affairs and defence, asks all concerned ministries to appoint core officers for coordination and speeding up the process.

The policy aims to speed up the process of transporting live organs between hospitals and cities, as organs have a limited shelf life and transportation requires coordination between various agencies.

“The Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) will act as a guiding document for transplant professionals and stakeholders across the country for seamless transportation of human organs through various modes including road, air, rail and waterways,” a senior health ministry official said.

India performs the third highest number of organ transplants and the second highest number of corneal transplants in the world. In 2023, for the first time, it saw more than 1,000 cadaveric organ donations.

Organ donation rate is less than 1 per 1 million people

However, the organ donation rate remains below one per million people. According to Ministry of Health data, the total number of organ transplants performed annually in the country is expected to increase from 4,990 in 2013 to 17,168 in 2023. This data includes both live and deceased organs.

The SoP states that each mode of transport must create green corridors in their respective areas for speedy transportation of organs.

Medical personnel will be present during organ transplants.

For transportation of human organs by air, the SoP ensures that the organ boxes are properly packed and labelled and maintained in a secure and controlled environment. The SoP further provides that the Civil Aviation Security Authority will exempt organ boxes from X-ray inspection.

It states that staff carrying/accompanying organ boxes should be given priority for disembarkation and, to that end, the captain will make an in-flight announcement and cabin crew will facilitate the procedure.

Similarly, with regard to transportation of live organs in ambulances and other vehicles, it has been stipulated that transportation of human organs for transplantation from outside India will not be permitted.

“Consideration could be given to creating green corridors to initiate the organ transportation process through a 'one-trigger system' – a request from organ distribution authorities. This request would come from a credible source, which could help minimise domestic security concerns,” the report said.

“Core officers may be appointed from police departments to handle issues related to creation of green corridors for transportation of organs in each state/city,” the official said.

If a live organ is to be transported on the subway, travel tickets/tokens must be arranged in advance for the passenger carrying the organ box.

“There is the possibility of allowing live human organs to be carried on board aircraft and announcements on the subway regarding the subway as a partner in saving lives,” the policy states.

In case the organs are transported by rail, the Railway Traffic Control will give priority to trains carrying living organs for transplantation. The Railway Security Department will retain a copy of the certificate issued by the authorized hospital/medical institution for future records.

For transportation of organs by waterways, Waterway Security Officers and Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) will verify all the necessary documents and take prompt action. Appropriate signage regarding organ donation can be displayed at the ports. Also, if there is any doubt regarding the contents of the waterway parcel/box, the security officers will inform their superiors and take further necessary action.