What is National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO)?
Historical Background
Organ transplantation in India faced significant challenges before the establishment of a coordinated national system. Prior to the formation of NOTTO, organ donation and transplantation activities were largely fragmented, with limited inter-state coordination and a lack of standardized protocols. This resulted in inefficiencies, inequities, and a low organ donation rate.
Recognizing the urgent need for a centralized organization, the Government of India established NOTTO to streamline the process and promote ethical practices. Over the years, NOTTO has evolved to incorporate digital platforms, expand its network, and enhance public awareness campaigns. The organization has played a crucial role in increasing the number of organ transplants in India, addressing the critical gap between the demand and supply of organs.
The establishment of State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organizations (SOTTOs) and Regional OTTOs (ROTTOs) further decentralized and strengthened the organ donation and transplantation ecosystem.
Key Points
12 points- 1.
NOTTO functions as the National Registry for organ and tissue donation and transplantation. This means it maintains a centralized database of patients awaiting transplants, potential donors, and transplant centers across the country. This registry helps in matching organs to recipients efficiently and transparently.
- 2.
NOTTO is responsible for coordinating organ allocation across states. When an organ becomes available, NOTTO ensures that it is allocated to the most suitable recipient based on established criteria, irrespective of their location. This promotes fairness and reduces geographical disparities in access to transplantation.
- 3.
NOTTO plays a crucial role in promoting public awareness about organ donation. Through various campaigns, workshops, and outreach programs, NOTTO aims to educate the public about the importance of organ donation and dispel myths and misconceptions surrounding it. Increased awareness leads to more people pledging to donate their organs, ultimately saving lives.
- 4.
NOTTO formulates national policies and guidelines for organ and tissue transplantation. These guidelines ensure that transplantation activities are conducted ethically, safely, and in accordance with established medical standards. They cover aspects such as donor eligibility, recipient selection, organ retrieval, and post-transplant care.
- 5.
NOTTO facilitates inter-state coordination for organ sharing. Organs can be transported across state borders to reach the most suitable recipient. NOTTO coordinates with various stakeholders, including hospitals, transport agencies, and law enforcement, to ensure the timely and safe transfer of organs.
- 6.
NOTTO promotes the use of digital platforms for donor and patient registration. The Aadhaar-linked platform allows citizens to easily pledge their organs and tissues after death. This streamlines the registration process and makes it more accessible to the public.
- 7.
NOTTO works to ensure transparency and traceability in the organ donation and transplantation process. This helps to build public trust in the system and prevent unethical practices such as organ trafficking.
- 8.
NOTTO focuses on capacity building of State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organizations (SOTTOs) and Regional OTTOs (ROTTOs). This involves training healthcare professionals, providing technical support, and sharing best practices to improve transplantation services at the state and regional levels.
- 9.
NOTTO promotes multi-organ donation as a right of every family. This means that when a person is declared brain dead, their family is informed about the possibility of donating multiple organs to save multiple lives.
- 10.
NOTTO is working on creating a national portal and a uniform policy for the allocation of organs. This aims to ensure greater transparency and reduce wastage of organs through coordination with the national network.
- 11.
NOTTO promotes the establishment of Green Corridors to facilitate the rapid and safe transport of organs across cities and states. This involves coordinating with traffic police and other agencies to ensure that ambulances carrying organs can travel without delays.
- 12.
NOTTO monitors the deceased organ donation rate in India and compares it with other countries. This helps to identify areas where India can improve its organ donation and transplantation system. For example, India's deceased organ donation rate is 0.77 per million population, which is lower than that of Thailand (6.21) and Spain (48).
Visual Insights
NOTTO: Functions and Key Provisions
Overview of the functions and key provisions of the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO).
NOTTO
- ●National Registry
- ●Coordination & Allocation
- ●Public Awareness
- ●Policy & Guidelines
Evolution of NOTTO and Organ Donation in India
Timeline of key events related to the establishment and development of NOTTO and organ donation in India.
The timeline illustrates the evolution of organ donation in India, from the initial legal framework to the establishment of a national coordinating body and recent advancements in technology and public awareness.
- 1994Transplantation of Human Organs Act (THOA) enacted
- 2011THOA amended to include deceased organ donation
- 2014National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) established
- 2023Aadhaar-linked platform for organ donation pledges launched
- 2024India records highest number of transplants from deceased donors (3,403)
- 2025Organ transplants nearly reach 20,000, a fourfold increase since 2013
Recent Developments
10 developmentsIn 2024, India recorded its highest number of transplants using organs from deceased donors, with an increase of 16% compared to the previous years, totaling 3,403 transplants, according to NOTTO data.
Since September 17, 2023, over 4.8 lakh citizens have registered to donate organs and tissues after death through an Aadhaar-based verification system.
In 2025, over 1,200 families donated organs of their deceased loved ones, transforming numerous lives and reducing logistical barriers.
NOTTO is actively working on creating a national portal and a uniform policy for the allocation of organs, aiming to ensure greater transparency and reduce wastage of organs through coordination with the national network.
The government has introduced an Aadhaar-linked platform for pledging organs, streamlining the registration process and making it more accessible to the public.
NOTTO is promoting a culture of organ and tissue donation in government establishments, institutions, and organizations, encouraging more people to pledge their organs.
India leads the world in the number of hand transplants performed, showcasing the country's competence in performing complex organ transplants.
In 2025, India's organ transplants nearly reached 20,000, a fourfold increase since 2013, driven by streamlined processes and a surge in public awareness.
NOTTO is focusing on enhancing the use of digital platforms for donor and patient registration and hospital connectivity, improving the efficiency of the organ donation and transplantation system.
The government is promoting Green Corridors and implementing Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for different modes of transport to enable rapid and safe organ transport across cities and states.