NOTTO Announces 42-Day Special Leave for Central Government Employees Donating Organs

Why in News:
Central government employees who donate organs are entitled to 42 days of special casual leave, as announced by the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO).

About NOTTO:
The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization is a central body under the Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India. It oversees the implementation of the National Organ Transplant Program (NOTP) and adheres to the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOTA), 1994. It maintains a national registry of organ donors and recipients and facilitates an efficient organ procurement and distribution system.

Divisions of NOTTO:

1. National Human Organ and Tissue Removal and Storage Network:
   • Coordinates nationwide activities related to organ and tissue donation.
   • Operates under the Transplantation of Human Organs (Amendment) Act, 2011.
2. National Biomaterial Centre (National Tissue Bank):
   • Focuses on tissue donation, banking, and bridging the gap between demand and supply while ensuring quality assurance.
   • Mandated under the 2011 amendment.

Activities:

• Coordinating tissue procurement and distribution.
• Screening donors and tissues.
• Tissue removal, preservation, sterilization, storage, and tracking.
• Maintaining confidentiality, records, and data protection.
• Quality management and development of guidelines and protocols.
• Conducting training and aiding in tissue bank registration.

Recent Update:
The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) issued an order granting 42 days of special leave for organ donors. This leave applies to surgeries involving kidney, liver, or pancreas donation, as these organs can either regenerate or function with reduced volume.

The leave may begin up to one week prior to the surgery, with a doctor’s recommendation, and is typically taken continuously from the date of hospital admission. The order, now available on the NOTTO website, was confirmed by NOTTO chief Dr. Anil Kumar.

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