Pending adoption of a changed set of rules governing transplantation of human organs, the State’s health administration is working out alternatives to make the transplant process free of violations.
A meeting was chaired by the Director of Medical Education (DME) on Monday to discuss the process of approval of transplants vis-à-vis the Transplant of Human Organs Act, as it is implemented in the State.
While noting that the State is yet to adopt the latest set of rules for the act, which were formulated in 2014, attendees in the meeting agreed to stricter scrutiny of a transplant application before approval. “A consensus was reached on hiring a legal expert to scrutinise the application and documents sent to the transplant authorisation committees, before according approvals. In case of non-Indians opting to undergo transplant in India, this legal opinion will be handy,” said DME Dr. Ramesh Reddy.
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When an individual approaches a hospital for transplant, the hospital is expected to verify if the intending donor and recipient comply with the stipulations of Transplantation of Human Organs Act and forward the vetted application to the State’s Transplant Authorisation Committee for scrutiny and approval.
No registry maintained
As the State does not maintain a registry for transplants from live donors, the exact number of donations is not known. Health officials estimate that kidney transplants alone could be anywhere between 75 and 100 per month, and is growing. Concerns over implementation of the Act in Telangana have come about in recent past. after a doctor, who worked at city-based Continental Hospitals, alleged malpractice in the institution in carrying out kidney transplants, particularly a few transplants for foreign patients. The doctor’s complaint is being investigated by the Gachibowli police.
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The hospital has denied malpractice and said in a statement issued on Monday that in the case of foreign patients, it only accepted documents certified by patient’s embassy or consulate but cannot verify them before forwarding it to the transplant authorisation committees for approval.
Those in the State government closely associated with implementing the Act insist that hospitals should attempt to verify documents before forwarding them.
“It is with this intention that a legal expert is set to be hired to assist the State’s transplant authorisation committee. Hospitals too should attempt to verify documents instead of simply forwarding it,” said a health official, who did not want to be named.