Health Ministry is working on a 'One Nation, One Organ Allocation' policy

The Union Health Ministry is currently working on a "One Nation, One Organ Allocation" policy in consultation with the states to develop uniform guidelines for the registration, allocation, and other aspects of the process. This will help patients seeking transplants from deceased donors to receive organs from any hospital in the country, thereby providing them with more flexibility in seeking treatment.

The Supreme Court has also urged the Health Ministry to take appropriate action against some states that have imposed domicile certificate conditions for patients wishing to register in the cadaver transplant registry for organ transplantation. As a result, the ministry has recommended the removal of domicile criteria for registering patients seeking organs from deceased donors.

Furthermore, the ministry has removed the 65-year age limit for registration of patients seeking organs from a deceased donor, which has been a significant obstacle for many patients in need of organ transplants. The National Organ & Tissue Transplant Organisation has made necessary changes to its guidelines, allowing patients of all age groups to register themselves for receiving organs from deceased donors.

In addition, some states have been charging fees ranging between Rs 5,000 to 10,000 for registering patients seeking transplants, which is against the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Rules, 2014. The Union Health Ministry has asked these states not to charge any fees for registering such patients.