By TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, NOV 02, 2014: INDIA is to receive Spanish cooperation in setting up the most modern and efficient protocols and technologies to facilitate organ donation and transplantation. A Memorandum of Understanding covering this and other aspects of healthcare cooperation is expected to be signed soon.

Dr Harsh Vardhan, Minister for Health and Family Welfare who held a meeting with Ms Ana Mato Adrover, Spain's Minister for Health, Social Services and Equality, in Madrid yesterday, said here yesterday that he envisions infrastructure in India for organ donation and transplantation comparable to the highest standards achieved by Spain.

"Spain has the highest rate of organ donation – about 35.3 per million population – and also offers models in best practices. I would like our own National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) to have those standards and the Spanish health minister has offered full technological assistance," Dr Harsh Vardhan said.

Dr Harsh Vardhan and Ms Ana Mato Adrover discussed cooperation in other aspects of healthcare as well. They shared their opinions on health assurance, e-health, generic medicine availability, non-communicable diseases like diabetes, coronary artery disease and cancer, and other issues. Experiences on India and Spain's respective steps on checking Ebola Virus Disease were also shared.

The Spanish Minister accepted Dr Harsh Vardhan's invitation to visit India in January 2015. It was agreed that the MoU would be readied for signing ahead of her visit.

On Thursday, the Minister visited Spain's National Organisation for Transplantation in Madrid to get a feel of the professionalism at work in maintaining the Registry of donors and recipients and the manner in which transfers are organised.

He met Mr Rafael Matesanz Acedos, the Director of the institution and shared views on all aspects of organ donation and transplantation. Mr Acedos assured full cooperation from his side and presented Dr Harsh Vardhan a copy of the "Good practices on organ donation and transplantation guidelines manual."

Earlier, on Wednesday, Dr Harsh Vardhan, visited the Donation and Transplantation Institute Foundation, Barcelona, one of the leading centres of the world for research in organ transplantation housed in University of Barcelona University.

He met Dr Gloria Paez, Director, DTI, and discussed the latest advancements in the field. She handed over to Dr Harsh Vardhan a copy of the "Transplant Coordination Manual". The Health Minister also met Dr Alberch Jordi, Vice-Rector for Research, Innovation and Transplantation, University of Barcelona.

The Indian organ and tissue donation and transplantation scenario is in for major development in the coming years with the government committed to make NOTTO a world class institution. Regional centres will also be commissioned in six cities subsequently, the Health Minister stated.