K-SOTTO’s empanelled logistics support gives a fillip to organ transplants in Kerala

After a long wait, logistics support to facilitate organ and tissue transplants across Kerala has finally been launched in the State, a move expected to significantly strengthen organ transplantation activities. Earlier this month, the Kerala State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (K-SOTTO) empanelled a Statewide taxi service to provide logistic support. The empanelled service provider will supply vehicles as required.

Following its introduction, the dedicated logistics service has already assisted in the transportation of blood samples during recent organ donation procedures. Since the empanelment, around six such logistics services have been utilised successfully, said K-SOTTO executive director and State convener of the Mrithasanjeevani organ transplant programme, Dr. Noble Gracious.

“Once relatives give consent for organ donation, it is extremely important that the mortal remains of the deceased donor are handed over at the earliest after organ retrieval. To facilitate that, we need to avoid any delay, and the logistics services will help ensure this,” said Dr Gracious. He added that the service would help save time involved in various organ transplantation procedures and related activities.

“Even during the recent organ donation involving Aalin Sherin, the recipient was in Thiruvananthapuram while the donor hospital was in Ernakulam. We used the service to transport blood samples from both the donor and the recipient to the immunology lab in Ernakulam for cross-matching, and the results were obtained in a time-bound manner. This service can also be used for any logistics related to organ donation,” Dr Gracious said.

According to Manilal J.R., the logistics service provider, the company’s prior experience in delivering time-bound logistics services has been helpful. “We have our own vehicles to provide the service. In addition, we have tied up with other agencies, which will add to our fleet and provide ambulance and taxi services depending on the urgency and requirement,” Mr. Manilal said.

The logistics services will be used for transporting organs from retrieval centres to transplant centres; transporting cross-match samples; providing conveyance for empanelled doctors from their residences to hospitals for brain stem death certification; facilitating transportation for teams of doctors conducting inspections and audits at transplant centres; and arranging patient transport to shift brain stem death patients from other hospitals to transplant centres, among other services.