Karnataka reconstitutes organ-specific panels under SOTTO for transparent, expert-driven transplants

Karnataka’s Health Department has reconstituted organ-specific advisory committees under the State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (SOTTO – Jeevasarthakathe) to bring greater transparency, efficiency, and clinical expertise into the organ allocation and transplantation process.

Seven panels, each focusing on a specific organ –  such as kidney, liver, heart, lung – have been reconstituted after the term of the previous committees ended in April.

Each committee – comprising experts in the relevant specialties from both government and private hospitals – will function for a three-year term. 

“The requirements for allocation and transplantation differ 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,” Naushad Pasha, Chief Transplant Coordinator at SOTTO, told The Hindu.

According to a government order (GO) issued in this regard on October 3, 2025, the primary responsibilities of the reconstituted committees include registering beneficiaries under specified categories (general and emergency), advising on the suitability and eligibility of donated organs, resolving issues related to allocation, providing guidance on allocation policies, identifying and classifying marginal donors, and recommending inter-zonal organ sharing in select cases.

Additionally, the committees will play a crucial role in guiding and assisting the process of brain death declaration, offering advice on certification, and providing technical support to hospitals and transplant teams.

Immunology and pathology

Apart from organ-specific, brain death and infectious diseases advisory committees,  the State for the first time has set up an immunology and pathology advisory 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 evaluate blood groups, tissue types, and immune markers to ensure that organs are transplanted safely and successfully, minimising the risk of rejection,” Mr. Pasha said.

Similarly, the infectious diseases advisory committee will examine donor organs for infectious diseases, malignancies, or pathological conditions that may affect transplant outcomes. It will also monitor laboratory results from serology, virology, and histopathology tests, providing authoritative recommendations on allocation decisions, he explained.

Second highest donations 

Karnataka has been among the more proactive States in strengthening the deceased donor programme in recent years. Karnataka SOTTO has facilitated 154 organ donations this year (from January till date) – the second highest in the country this year after Tamil Nadu. Karnataka had recorded 162 and 178 donations in 2024 and 2023 respectively.

Officials said the new structure will improve accountability. “The aim is to ensure that every decision on allocation is transparent, traceable and in compliance with the law. Domain experts will deliberate on clinical factors while allocation remains strictly according to guidelines,” Mr. Pasha added.