SAMAGAM-2025 on Organ Donation and Transplantation concludes at SKICC

The two days’ review meeting ROTTOs/ SOTTOs of North/East/North-East -SAMAGAM 2025 organised by National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) New Delhi in collaboration with State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (SOTTO) J&K concluded on 25th of Feb in SKICC Srinagar.

The first physical Review Meeting was inaugurated by the honourable Chief Minister of J&K, Jenab Omar Abdullah on 24th February. He gave his views on Organ Donation and Transplantation. He complemented SKIMS Srinagar, GMC Srinagar and GMC Jammu for doing excellence in Kidney and Corneal Transplantation. He advised these institutions to gear up for starting cadaveric Organ Donation.

Director General Health Services , Govt. Of India Dr Atul Goel gave stress to remove the causes for organ failure like, self medication, life style diseases, lack of exercise etc.

Director NOTTO, New Delhi, Dr  Anil Kumar gave a brief about the meeting. Dr Ashraf Ganie, Director SKIMS and Dr Iffat Hassan Shah, Principal GMC Srinagar briefed about their institutions’ performance and Dr Ashutosh Gupta, Principal GMC Jammu stressed the need for separate Transplant Hospitals for GMCs Jammu as well as Srinagar with latest infrastructure and trained manpower.

Dr Sanjeev Puri Joint Director SOTTO Jammu and Kashmir introduced the ambassadors from Kashmir for Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation to the Chief Minister who felicitated family of late Dr Manzoor Ahmed, Ex HoD, Opthalmology GMC Srinagar, a great eye surgeon whose eyes were donated along with Ms Heenu Mushtaq, a kidney transplant recipient who is a marathon runner living a healthy life.

Experts who deliberated were Dr Anil Kumar Director NOTTO – ‘ Present Scenario of Organ Donation in India’; Dr Vipin Koushal, Nodal officer ROTTO North -‘Evolution of Cadaveric Organ Donation and Transplantation in PGI Chandigarh’; Dr Bashir Chappoo, Director, Eye Care and Research Centre Srinagar- ‘ Islam and organ/tissue donation ‘; Dr Elias Sharma, Nodal Officer, SOTTO J&K who is Head Urology and Renal Transplant GMC Jammu- ‘ Transplantation in India- Historical Landmarks and Dr MS Wani, Former HOD KTU SKIMS – ” Cadaveric Organ Donation in J&K- Way Forward.

This two day event featured experts’ deliberations on various aspects of organ donation and transplantation.

 Delegates from North, East and North East ROTTOs and SOTTOs participated in meeting were from ROTTO North, SOTTO J&K, SOTTO Himachal Pradesh, SOTTO Punjab, SOTTO Rajasthan, SOTTO Uttrakhand,  SOTTO Haryana, ROTTO East Kolkata, SOTTO Odisha, SOTTO Bihar, ROTTO Guwahati, SOTTO Arunachal Pradesh, SOTTO Mizoram and SOTTO Sikkim.

The event was managed by Dr Shiny Joint Director NOTTO, Anshu Sharma, Media Consultant, SOTTO and Irfan Ahmed Lone Transplant Coordinator SOTTO J&K.