In a move that would go a long way in boosting organ donation in the country, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the National Transplant Organisation of the Health Ministry and Social Services and Equality, Spain on cooperation in the field of organ transplant services.
Spain’s organ transplant system is considered the gold standard across the world. In less than a decade they have doubled the rate of organ donation to 30 deceased donors per million people. It’s now up to 40, the best in Europe. In India it is 34.
Talking to reporters, Finance Minister Arun Jaitely said that the MoU would facilitate bilateral cooperation in the field of organ and tissue procurement and transplantation and better understanding between the two countries. The knowledge gained will help in improving the services rendered to the patients suffering from end stage organ failure.
The MoU is proposed to be signed during the forthcoming bilateral meeting with the Spanish. The Cabinet also approved a proposal for setting up Rs 1,123 crore-new 750 bedded AIIMS at Kamrup (North Guwahati Revenue circle) under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY).
The new AIIMS will be completed within 48 months from the date of the approval of the Government. It have trauma center facilities, medical college with an intake of 100 MBBS students per year, nursing college with an intake of 60 BSc (Nursing) students per year, residential complexes and allied facilities / services, broadly on the pattern of AIIMS, New Delhi.
The hospital will have 22 Speciality/Super-Speciality Departments including 16 Operation Theaters. It will also have an AYUSH department with 30 beds for providing treatment facilities in traditional system of medicine.
The establishment of new AIIMS will serve the dual purpose of providing super speciality health care to the population while also help create a large pool of doctors and other health workers in this region that can be available for primary and secondary level institutions/facilities being created under National Health Mission (NHM).
The Union Cabinet also approved the Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) between Germany and India regarding cooperation in the sector of alternative medicine which contributes to the enhanced employment opportunities in the Ayush sector.