Our Correspondent
Kohima | November 25
Nagaland Health & Family Welfare Minister, S Pangnyu Phom today introduced the government resolution on Transplantation of Human Organ Act, 1994 and Transplantation of Human Organ Act (Amendment) 2021 at the Nagaland Legislative Assembly.
Parliament had enacted the Transplantation of Human Organ Act, 1994 with the aim to provide for the regulation of removal, storage and transplantation of human organs for therapeutic purposes and for the prevention of commercial dealings in human organs. The provisions include setting up authority for removal of human organs, regulations and registration of hospitals involved in removal, storage or transplantation of human organs and offences and penalties for contravention of the Act.
The proposed resolution stated that the Transplantation of Human Organs (Amendment) Act, 2011 was enacted with the aim to curb commercial trade in human organs while facilitating organ transplantation for needy patients.
It seeks to regulate transplantation of tissues of the human body; expansion of the definition of “near relative” in order to include the grandfather, grandmother, grandson and granddaughter as near relative; making it mandatory for a registered medical practitioners to ask the patient or near relative of every person admitted to ICU whether any prior authorization for removal of any human organ or tissue or both of his/her body has been made.
If not, the patient or his near relative should be made aware of the option to authorize such donation; requiring the hospital to inform in writing to the Human Organ Retrieval centre for removal, storage or transplantation or transportation of human organs or tissues or both of the donor. The provisions also include appointment of a transparent coordinator in all hospitals registered for organ retrieval and transplantation, regulation of the transplantation of organs for foreign nationals, to prevent the exploitation of minors and mentally challenged persons and to provide for swap donations of organs.
Also included in the act are establishment of National Human Organs and Tissues Removal and Storage Network; development and maintenance of a national registry of the recipients of human organs transplants and enhancement of the penalties provided under the Act.
Consideration and adoption of the resolution shall be taken up on November 26.
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