Karnataka is making significant strides to enhance its organ transplantation system. The state’s Health Department has recently restructured the organ-specific advisory committees operating under the State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (SOTTO), also known as Jeevasarthakathe. This initiative is designed to usher in greater transparency, efficiency, and clinical excellence in how organs are allocated and transplanted.
Seven new panels, each dedicated to a specific organ—such as kidneys, livers, hearts, and lungs—have been established. These committees come into effect following the conclusion of the previous committees’ terms in April, and each will serve for a duration of three years.
Composed of leading experts from both government and private healthcare sectors, these committees will ensure decisions are grounded in the best available clinical evidence. Naushad Pasha, Chief Transplant Coordinator at SOTTO, emphasized the importance of this specialized approach, stating, “The requirements for allocation and transplantation differ significantly from organ to organ. By having separate panels, decisions will be guided by evidence-based clinical criteria and specialist judgment rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.”
A government order, issued on October 3, 2025, outlines the critical responsibilities of these reconstituted committees. These include registering beneficiaries under specific categories (general and emergency), providing expert advice on the suitability and eligibility of donated organs, resolving allocation disputes, guiding on allocation policies, identifying and categorizing marginal donors, and recommending inter-zonal organ sharing when appropriate.
Furthermore, these committees will play a vital role in supporting and guiding the process of declaring brain death, offering crucial advice on certification, and providing essential technical support to hospitals and transplant teams.
Introducing Specialized Committees for Immunology and Pathology
For the first time, Karnataka has also introduced dedicated immunology and pathology advisory committees, in addition to the existing organ-specific, brain death, and infectious disease advisory groups.
Mr. Pasha elaborated on the new immunology and pathology committee: “This committee, comprising specialists in immunology and pathology, will provide expert guidance on donor-recipient compatibility, organ suitability, and laboratory testing. The panel will meticulously evaluate blood groups, tissue types, and immune markers to ensure organs are transplanted safely and successfully, thereby minimizing the risk of rejection.”
Similarly, the infectious diseases advisory committee will meticulously examine donor organs for any infectious diseases, malignancies, or pathological conditions that could impact transplant outcomes. It will also oversee laboratory results from serology, virology, and histopathology tests, offering authoritative recommendations for allocation decisions, he explained.
Karnataka’s Growing Impact in Organ Donation
Karnataka has consistently demonstrated proactive efforts in strengthening its deceased donor program. This year alone, SOTTO Karnataka has facilitated an impressive 154 organ donations (from January to date), positioning the state as the second highest in the country, just after Tamil Nadu. In previous years, Karnataka recorded 162 donations in 2024 and 178 in 2023.
Officials are confident that this new organizational structure will significantly enhance accountability. “The overarching goal is to ensure that every decision related to organ allocation is transparent, fully traceable, and strictly adheres to legal frameworks. Clinical factors will be thoroughly deliberated by domain experts, while allocation will remain rigorously bound by established guidelines,” Mr. Pasha concluded.