Mangaluru: The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has directed all States and Union Territories to strengthen transparency and accountability in kidney transplantation by ensuring comprehensive reporting of transplant outcomes and greater public disclosure by hospitals.
The directive follows a representation submitted by Dakshina Kannada MP Capt. Brijesh Chowta to Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda, raising concerns over the lack of transparent reporting and long-term monitoring of kidney transplant outcomes in the country.
Representation highlights concerns
In an official communication dated June 19, Dr Anil Kumar, Director of the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO), referred to a report prepared by Mangaluru residents Shyam Kamath and Dr Lionel de Souza.
The report highlighted concerns regarding under-reporting of post-transplant mortality, complications and the absence of a robust mechanism for tracking long-term outcomes, particularly in cadaveric kidney transplants.
The concerns were subsequently brought to the attention of the Union Health Minister by MP Capt. Brijesh Chowta, who sought measures to improve transparency and public confidence in the organ transplantation system.
National registry already in place
Responding to the representation, NOTTO stated that the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Registry already maintains records of kidney transplant donors and recipients, including follow-up details and outcome data.
According to the communication, as many as 824 transplant centres across the country are linked to the national registry and are required to upload transplant-related information and follow-up details through designated login credentials.
However, the Director of NOTTO instructed State authorities to ensure that all registered transplant hospitals submit complete and timely data to the national registry.
The communication noted that regular and accurate reporting would strengthen monitoring of transplant outcomes, improve traceability and support evidence-based policy decisions in the healthcare sector.
Hospitals asked to disclose outcome data
The Union Health Ministry has also directed States and Union Territories to instruct transplant hospitals to prominently display post-transplant outcome data on the homepage of their websites in a prescribed format.
The move is expected to improve transparency and enable patients and their families to make informed decisions before undergoing transplantation procedures.
In addition, hospitals have been instructed to strictly adhere to informed consent requirements by ensuring that patients and their families are adequately informed about transplant procedures, associated risks, complications and expected outcomes.
Call for greater accountability
In his representation to Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda, Capt. Brijesh Chowta had sought the establishment of a National Kidney Transplant Outcomes Registry, mandatory publication of long-term survival statistics by hospitals and stronger informed consent protocols.
The Dakshina Kannada MP argued that greater transparency in cadaveric organ transplantation would significantly improve public confidence in the organ donation and transplant ecosystem.
He also emphasised that the availability of comprehensive outcome data would empower patients and their families to make better-informed decisions while promoting greater accountability among transplant centres.
Healthcare experts believe that the latest directive from the Union Health Ministry marks an important step towards improving transparency and strengthening public trust in India’s organ transplantation system.
The measures are also expected to enhance monitoring of transplant outcomes and contribute to the development of evidence-based healthcare policies aimed at improving patient care and long-term transplant success rates.