Maharashtra to frame policy on 'Green Corridor' to transport organs

Mumbai, Feb 19: Maharashtra government has decided to formulate a comprehensive policy on 'Green Corridor' to ensure smooth passage of transportation of harvested organs within specified time, a senior health official has said.

The government has decided to frame a policy and also mooted a proposal to appoint a nodal officer from the police department to handle issues related to the 'Green Corridor', state Director of Health Satish Pawar said. The policy seeks to iron out hurdles faced by police over jurisdiction issues, obtaining necessary No Objection Certificates (NoCs) and creating a green corridor for smooth passage of ambulances carrying harvested organs.

According to state Minister for Public Health Deepak Sawant, at present the wait list for cadaver transplants in Maharashtra is about 2,000. There is a huge demand for liver, followed by heart. "Non Transplant Organ Retrieval Centres (NTORCs) are to be set up in hospitals having Intensive Care Units (ICUs). These centres shall have counsellors, who will convince relatives of brain dead patients for consenting to donate organs of their patient," Sawant said.

The minister had recently held the first meeting with representatives of government and private hospitals, traffic and other police officials, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials and medical experts.

He directed the stakeholders to make recommendations to enable the government to draft a comprehensive policy with complete protocols for organ harvesting and green corridor. Sawant said suggestions included using FM radio channels to air advance information about creation of dedicated Green Corridor in the city.

"In Mumbai, the government can use display signages to inform motorists and pedestrians about green corridor route. The government is contemplating to have special stickers, sirens and specially designated lamp for ambulances meant to transport harvested human organs," he said. The government is also trying to tie-up with airline companies for air ambulance facilities, he said.

PTI