Union Health Ministry Issues First-Ever SOPs for Seamless Human Organ Transport

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 4th August. The Union Health Ministry has announced its first-ever Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the seamless transport of human organs across various travel modes, aiming to enhance the efficiency and safety of organ transplants nationwide.

Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra introduced the SOPs, highlighting their significance: “By streamlining the organ transport process, we aim to maximize the utilization of precious organs and offer hope to countless patients awaiting life-saving transplants. These SOPs serve as a roadmap for organ retrieval and transplant institutions, ensuring adherence to best practices and quality standards.”

Key features of the SOPs include:

Air Transport: Airlines carrying human cadaveric organs can now request priority take-off and landing from Air Traffic Control and arrange front-row seats. The SOPs also allow for priority reservations and late check-ins for medical personnel transporting organs. Additionally, the source airport will coordinate with the destination airport to facilitate a smooth arrival process.

Green Corridors: To ensure unobstructed transport, “green corridors” will be established at airports and other transport hubs. This involves creating a clear, expedited route for the organ box from the ambulance to the aircraft and vice versa. A nodal police officer will be appointed in each state to manage these corridors and address any security concerns.

Metro and Road Transport: The SOPs provide guidelines for priority transit of organs via metro systems, with metro security staff escorting the clinical team and ensuring a designated area for the organ box. Similar protocols are outlined for road and rail transport, as well as shipping ports.

Safety and Handling: The organ box must be kept in an upright position during transport, labeled “handle with care,” and secured with a seat belt for added safety.

Dr. Anil Kumar, Director of the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO), emphasized the critical nature of organ transport, noting, “The transport of a live solid organ is an extremely critical activity due to its limited shelf life. Effective coordination between various agencies is essential.”

Developed in consultation with the NITI Aayog, relevant ministries, and transplant professionals, these SOPs address challenges identified under the National Organ Transplant Program, aiming to improve the overall efficiency of organ transport across the country.