Non-Transplant Organ Retrieval Centres Launchpad Conference Held in Belagavi

BELAGAVI

The Rotary Club of Organ Donation (RID 3234), in partnership with Jeevasarthakathe, organised the Non-Transplant Organ Retrieval Centres (NTORC) Launchpad Conference in Belagavi, aimed at strengthening Karnataka’s organ donation ecosystem.

The event brought together NGOs, government officials, intensivists, anesthetists, and transplant coordinators from across the state to encourage hospitals to set up NTORCs. These centres play a vital role in retrieving organs from deceased donors in non-transplant hospitals, especially in Tier-II cities.

Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, the chief guest, shared the government’s strategic vision to promote organ donation. He emphasised incorporating organ donation awareness into medical education, deploying trained grief counsellors in government and district hospitals, and enhancing public-private partnerships with NGOs.

Minister Rao assured that actionable suggestions raised during the conference would be reviewed for possible implementation. “We need collective action, policy innovation, and continued awareness to make Karnataka a model state for organ donation,” he said.

Dr Ravi Shankar Shetty, Convenor of Jeevasarthakathe, also addressed the gathering, underlining the need for more certified NTORCs and the role of ICUs in facilitating donations from brain-dead patients.

The conference served as a crucial platform for collaboration among stakeholders to build a more robust and compassionate organ donation framework across Karnataka.