Principal GMC discusses modalities for making SOTTO fully operational

Jammu: A meeting of steering committee of State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (SOTTO) J&K was held today under the chairpersonship of Dr. Shashi Sudhan Sharma, Principal Govt. Medical College & Associated Hospitals Jammu.

In the meeting, the constitution of Appropriate Authority by the Govt. was discussed and it was decided to include Dr. Shazia Wafai, Senior Regional Director, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India to take up the matter with higher authorities.

It was also decided to operationalise the SOTTO fully. The Principal GMC stressed on the need to create awareness among the masses with regard to organ pledging and allied awareness. She stressed upon timely staffing and development of allied infrastructure to make SOTTO fully functional.

Dr. Elias Sharma, Nodal Officer SOTTO impressed upon the outsourcing of labs for starting of Renal Transplant in Super Speciality Hospital. Principal GMC agreed for the exploring possibility of outsourcing lab tests to a public sector undertaking

The meeting decided to send the staff on training to start the Renal Transplant and resolve other pending issues as soon as possible.

The Principal exhorted for launching a concerted Information, Education and Communication campaign among the stakeholders and explore the best possible utilisation of funds by organising events, talk shows and conferences.

The meeting was attended by Nagendra Singh Jamwal, Administrator, GMC & AH; Dr. S.L. Kachroo Joint Director, SOTTO; Dr. Arun Sharma MS, SSH; Dr. Raju Bhandari Consultant, Nephrology Department; Sonia Vaid, Deputy Director P&S GMC and Ramesh Lal Bains CAO GMC.