Kerala Government Hires Professionals to Boost Organ Transplantation Process
In a significant policy move aimed at enhancing organ transplantation across the state, the Kerala government has decided to hire professional services to streamline and strengthen the organ retrieval and transplantation process. This decision addresses the complex and time-sensitive nature of deceased donor organ transplantation, which often requires the involvement of various specialists at irregular hours.
Addressing Critical Needs in Organ Transplantation
The transplantation process involves numerous coordinated steps that demand specialized expertise. These include brain stem death declaration, counseling of relatives, informing family members about the patient's condition, obtaining consent for withdrawal of ventilator support or organ donation, maintaining the body until retrieval, organ evaluation and allocation, arranging logistics and green corridors for transportation, as well as the actual organ retrieval and transplant surgery. Dr. Noble Gracious, executive director of the Kerala State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (K-SOTTO), emphasized that this entire process typically requires medical professionals and supporting staff to be engaged for 24 to 36 hours continuously.
New Compensation Policy for Specialists
Under the new policy, professionals involved in these procedures will be paid fees commensurate with the time, expertise, and services rendered during the organ retrieval and transplantation process. This includes specialists such as intensivists, transplant surgeons, anesthetists, grief counselors, ICU technicians, OT technicians, and empanelled doctors for brain stem death certification. Currently, many of these personnel provide their services without any compensation, which the government aims to rectify with this initiative.
Expanding Organ Retrieval Centers
The move is expected to encourage more hospitals to function as organ retrieval centers. Dr. Gracious added that K-SOTTO plans to declare district hospitals as non-transplant organ retrieval centers, which will increase the demand for empanelled professional services to manage the process efficiently. With the new decision, K-SOTTO will be authorized to pay professional charges to specialists and hire service providers from outside government departments during deceased donor organ transplantation procedures.
Impact on Healthcare Infrastructure
This policy is anticipated to significantly boost organ transplantation rates in Kerala by addressing key logistical and financial barriers. By ensuring that medical professionals are adequately compensated for their round-the-clock efforts, the government hopes to create a more sustainable and effective transplantation ecosystem. The initiative reflects a broader commitment to improving healthcare outcomes and saving lives through enhanced medical services.
