Set up organ retrieval centres in district hospitals, medical colleges: Gundu Rao to officials

Bengaluru: Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Monday directed officials to set up organ retrieval centres in government district hospitals and medical colleges to boost organ donation and transplant services under the Jeevasarthakathe programme.

He was speaking after chairing a progress review meeting of the programme at Arogya Soudha in Bengaluru.

The minister instructed officials to explore the KMCRI model to establish HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) laboratories under the Bangalore Medical Services Trust (BMST) in three locations across the state. An HLA lab supports organ and bone marrow transplantation by helping technicians match donors and recipients for transplants.

"Efforts to retrieve organs from brain-dead individuals should be increased in government district hospitals and medical colleges,” Rao said, questioning officials about the lack of initiative shown by district hospitals in this regard.

During the meeting, officials decided to renew the registration of the Jeevasarthakathe Society and increase the number of operational zones from five to seven. They also discussed forming a steering committee and revising the kidney allocation policy to ensure fair and adequate organ distribution.