CHENNAI: The government on Monday announced the setting up of a Cadaver Transplantation Authority which would have functional and fiscal authority to serve as the State’s nodal agency for all organ transplantations. Chaired by Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, the body would serve as the nodal agency for transplantations in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Puducherry and Lakshadweep.
With the State poised to become the nerve centre of cadaver organ donation operations for south India, doctors involved in the programme believe it is a massive step forward. “What it will do is bring in functional autonomy and greater operational effectiveness. The State government will be involved at every stage but for matters like permission to transplant an organ, the decision can be taken by the transplant body,” explained a senior doctor. “This will increase effectiveness of cadaver organ transplantation, especially during late-night harvests and emergency situations,” he added.
The Centre had earlier proposed that five regional centres for organ and tissue transplants be set up across the country. Given its impressive track record, Tamil Nadu was offered the first choice.
Ever since the State began the Cadaver Transplant Programme in 2008, a whopping 1,494 major organs have been successfully transplanted, which is more than half the organs transplanted in the rest of the country.
A senior health department official added that the setting up of this regional centre is high on the priority list of the Health and Family Welfare Department.
“The Chief Minister has been very keen on any medical scheme that will save the lives of people and she has instructed us to move forward with this project at the earliest. It is a great landmark for the State and for medical practitioners who have perfected transplant operations,” he said.