CHENNAI: The State 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. The body, which would have Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa as the Chairperson, would also play a critical role in the functioning of the Regional Centre for Organ Transplantation which is to be set up soon. The announcement, made in the Assembly by Health Minister C Vijayabaskar, is seen as a major boost for organ transplantations in Tamil Nadu, which has topped the list in this respect since the first procedure was done here in 1994.
The government was asked by the Union Health Ministry to set up the Regional Centre for Organ Transplantation, which would function as the nodal agency for transplantations in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Puducherry and Lakshadweep.
The Cadaver Transplantation Authority would also serve as a formalisation and recognition of the work done by the Cadaver Transplantation Organisation which has been functioning here.
With the State poised to become the nerve centre of cadaver organ donation operations in south India, doctors involved in the programme believe it is a massive step forward.