After obtaining clearance for ‘Jeevandan’ (cadaver transplant programme) the NTR University of Health Sciences (NTRUHS) is striving to mobilise funds on its own, as the government is yet to release the promised sum.
The government had promised to grant Rs. 2 crore for the programme, but senior Health Department officials have dropped enough hints that the department was not in a position to honour the commitment for the time being. Varsity officials have since been looking out for donors.
At a consultative meeting held on the university premises earlier this month, Vice-Chancellor T. Ravi Raju had requested doctors and top administrators of private hospitals to donate to the programme, and some of them replied in the affirmative.
The Department of Health, Medical and Family Welfare has given the green signal for the launch of Jeevandan through G.O MS No. 1 dated January 6 with an initial corpus of Rs. 2 crore, but the government has not released funds owing to financial constraints, according to a top NTRUHS official.
He said the NTRUHS had its hands tied as far as spending from its funds was concerned, since the issue required sanction from the executive council, which was yet to be constituted.
The university could till date mobilise up to Rs. 12 lakh, with which an office has to be set up for the programme.
“We have to begin with registration of potential donors and recipients so that people get to know about the programme.
Before that, the university has to tie up with the National Informatics Centre for launching a dedicated website as also a toll-free number for people to enquire,” the official added.
For the record, the government had approved the establishment of an office of the Appropriate Authority for Cadaver Transplant at the NTRUHS and appointed the V-C as its Chairman.
NTRUHS mobilising funds for ‘Jeevandan’ on its own, as govt. has not released promised sum
