Delhi to get State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation, Government signs MoU with Centre
The Delhi Government on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of India under the National Organ Transplant Programme. The MoU will pave the way for the creation of a State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (SOTTO) in the national Capital.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the agreement marks a major step toward building a more structured and efficient organ donation system in the city. “Organ donation will give many people a new lease on life,” the Chief Minister said, adding that the establishment of SOTTO will make the transplant ecosystem in Delhi better organised and coordinated. Under India’s organ transplant framework, transplantation activities operate through a three-tier system defined by the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994, and its subsequent rules notified in 2014.
At the national level, coordination is managed by the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO). Regional responsibilities are handled by Regional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisations (ROTTO), while individual states operate their own State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisations (SOTTO).
The Chief Minister said that until now, many coordination functions related to organ transplantation in Delhi were handled through NOTTO. Despite the presence of several transplant centres in the Capital, a dedicated SOTTO had not yet been established in the city. The new body will create a state-level system to manage transplant-related activities more efficiently.
According to the Chief Minister, SOTTO will streamline several key processes. These include managing organ allocation and waiting lists, coordinating between transplant hospitals and organ retrieval centres, and promoting deceased organ donation across the Capital.
The organisation will also play an important role in establishing “green corridors” that allow organs to be transported quickly between hospitals during transplant procedures. In addition, it will maintain transplant records and ensure proper reporting of transplant activities. Training programmes will also be organised for transplant coordinators and hospital staff.
These initiatives aim to improve skills and strengthen the overall capacity of healthcare institutions involved in transplant procedures. The Chief Minister said the partnership with the central government will provide important financial and institutional support for the initiative.
Under the agreement, the Centre will provide financial assistance to establish and run SOTTO. This will include one-time infrastructure support for setting up offices and developing IT systems needed for transplant coordination.
The Central Government will also provide regular grants to cover manpower and operational expenses associated with running the organisation. In addition, assistance will be provided to expand transplant-related infrastructure in government hospitals across Delhi. This includes support for developing organ retrieval centres and enhancing transplant facilities in public healthcare institutions.
Officials said these measures will help strengthen Delhi’s transplant ecosystem and improve coordination between hospitals and transplant authorities.
