The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has issued a directive to all States and Union Territories, mandating strict adherence to new expedited timelines. The Ministry acknowledged that existing delays often lead to the unfortunate demise of recipients, a concern that has even been raised in Parliament.
The directive comes after a thorough review and consultation with the Directorate General of Health Services (Dte.GHS), aiming to streamline procedures under the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994 (as amended in 2011). This Act governs the removal, storage, and transplantation of human organs and tissues for therapeutic purposes.
Under the new guidelines, the Authorization Committee or Competent Authority is now required to make a decision on a live donor transplant case within seven working days of receiving all necessary documents. Reinforcing existing regulations, Rule 23(3) of the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Rules, 2014, is highlighted, stipulating that the Authorization Committee must render its final decision within twenty-four hours of convening a meeting for permission grant or rejection.
Furthermore, to ensure a swift resolution of disputes, any appeal filed under Section 17 of the Act concerning a rejected donor must be heard within seven working days after the receipt of all required documents.
The Ministry has urged all concerned authorities and committees to prioritize and strictly adhere to these revised timelines.
