THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: All organ donations in the state have been brought under the state control. The decision was taken at the high-level meeting convened by principal secretary (health) Rajan N Khobragade here on Wednesday.
The decision has been taken in the wake of the crime branch report that the organ donation racket is thriving in the state. The crime branch had found that exorbitant money is being collected from the recipients by this racket during the organ trade.
It has been decided to create an online registry of both donors and recipients who are awaiting live organ transplants and willing to donate the organs. The registry will help in finding suitable donors for the needy.
A society will also be formed under which all live organ donation and cadaver organ transplants will now come under. Presently, Mrithasanjeevani (Kerala Network of Organ Sharing) is the nodal agency for cadaver organ transplants. This will also be brought under the new society.
The society will play the key role between the donors, recipients and also the hospitals where the live transplants are performed. With the setting up of this society, no hospital in the state will be allowed to carry out live organ transplants without the consent of this society.
The society will also have the powers to screen and sanction permission for hospitals to carry out live organ donation.