ROTTO organizes First Ever CME cum Workshop on Organ Donation and Transplantation

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Chandigarh 21^st April:- The first ever CME cum Workshop on Organ Donation and Transplantation organized by ROTTO (Regional Organ & Tissue Transplant Organisation) and Department of Hospital Administration that saw participation of over 200 delegates from hospitals across the northern region including far flung states of J&K, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh concluded today at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh.

Appropriately acronymed as LEAD (Living Even After Death) 2017, the event was organized under the aegis of the National Organ Transplant Programme with an intent to acquaint the delegates about the tireless and round the clock institutional back up mechanism, process and procedures that are undertaken to translate that noble and magnanimous wish of the donor family to save someone's life otherwise battling for survival into a reality so as to enhance engagement of the stakeholders to increase the deceased donation rate and help overcome organ shortage.

Inaugurating the CME cum Workshop as Chief Guest, Anurag Aggrawal, Home cum Health Secretary UT Chandigarh stated that the cause calls for an integrated, synergized and sustained effort of the government, healthcare professionals, community and non-government organizations to create a culture of voluntary deceased organ donation. Considering it a very sensitive subject, Shri Aggarwal complimented ROTTO PGIMER for their initiatives for ''putting the right thought in the right mind" and assured them of his full support in giving a boost to the deceased donation programme. The Chief Guest also launched an e-newsletter of ROTTO during the inauguration.

Speaking at the Valedictory function as Chief Guest, Prof. Jagat Ram, Director, PGIMER emphasized that the solution to organ shortage and achievement of self-sufficiency in organ donation for all states in India is possible only through systematic strengthening of the deceased donor programme. Prof. Jagat Ram added that the three tier concept of setting up of national, regional and state units under National Organ Transplant Programme is an excellent step towards bridging the gap between need and availability.

The Director also felicitated eminent personalities, members of civil society and student volunteers for their immense contribution towards the cause. These luminaries include Padma Shri Prof. Yogesh Chawla, former director & Head, Deptt. of Hepatology, PGIMER;  Padma Shri Prof. Mukut Minz Director, Fortis Mohali, Sh. OP Singh, IPS,ADGP/HR & Litigation, Dr. Suchet Sachdev, Asst Prof, Department of Transfusion medicine, Ms. Madhu Marwaha  Prof. of English, MCM DAV College Chandigarh, Ms. Nisha Sachdev, Headmistress Govt. High school Sector 25, Mr. Rakesh Sangar, President of Shiv Kanwar Mahasang CharitableTrust, Mr. Harsimrat Singh Brar, Suprintendent, Central Excise and Service Tax, Ms, Nirmal Kaur, Student, Govt. Model Senior Secondary School sector 20D and Master Akshit Chhabra, Student Strawberry Fields School.      

Endorsing the need for public awareness and training of the intensive care physicians across the states Prof. Subhash Varma, Dean, PGIMER as Guest of Honour on the occasion, stated that as a country we have really lagged behind in putting in the confidence that the organs can be donated. Highlighting the need for SOPs to instill that confidence and for continuous and periodical sensitization on this altruistic cause of organ donation must be enhanced predominantly.

Dr. Vimal Bhandari, Director NOTTO apprised the delegates about the 'National Organ & Tissue Transplant Programme' which is going be streamlined across all the states. He stated that the national transplant registry would be set up at the centre where the database would be maintained. He stressed on the proactive engagement on the part of the states to make the initiative successful.

Speaking as Organizing Chairman of the event, Prof. AK Gupta, MS cum HOD of Dept. of Hospital Admn. PGIMER shared with the delegates that PGIMER is playing a lead role in taking forward this national mandate and as a single institution per billion population, PGIMER is having the highest number of cadaver organ donations nationally.  

Detailing on the journey of ROTTO and linkages between ROTTO and SOTTOs, Dr. Vipin Koushal, Nodal Officer, ROTTO PGIMER shared that under this programme, PGIMER is coordinating with hospitals across U.T. Chandigarh and the seven Northern States including Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Initially, the focus is be to educate and inform maximum number of hospitals in the region about the importance of organ transplant programme and encourage them to register with NOTTO and ROTTO and later make an online database of all the registered hospitals.

The topics discussed  in the programme ranged from the With an intent to enhance engagement and build synergies, the six scientific sessions in CME cum Workshop had deliberations on Role of NOTP and NOTTO, ROTTO PGIMER : The Journey so far; THOTA: Understanding Legal Perspective in Organ Transplantation; Role of Transplant Coordinators; Issues & Challenges in Organ Donation/Transplantation;  Brain Death Certification : Concept & Challenges; Maintaining the Potential Donor : A Critical Task; Recipient Selection & Cross Matching : Preparing for the Best Match and Transplant Surgery : Making it Happen pioneer work

Specific stress was laid on practical training by conducting counseling, public education programmes, and documentation related to organ donation and transplantation.

The experts who deliberated and came out with recommendations for the expansion of deceased donation included Prof. G.D. Puri, Head Dept. of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, , Prof. S.K. Gupta, Head Dept. of Neurosurgery, Prof. D. Behera, Head Dept. of Pulmonary Medicine, Prof. K.L. Gupta, Head Dept. of Nephrology, Prof. Ranjana W. Minz, Head Dept. of Immunopathology, Prof. Sadhna Sharma, Head Dept. of Biochemistry, Prof. Ashish Sharma, Head Dept. of Renal Transplant Surgery, Prof. T. Shyam K. Singh, Head Dept. of CTVS, Prof. Dalbir Singh, Head Dept. of Forensic Medicine, Prof. Rajesh Chhabra, Dept. of Neurosurgery and Prof. Arunanshu Behera, Dept. of General Surgery from PGIMER.

The Panel Discussions session saw a very high level of interaction from the participants on various issues and challenges pertaining to organ donation. The workshop concluded with the delegates finding it an extremely enriching experience.