On January 16, 2026, a one-day ICU workshop titled “Strengthening Organ Donation and Transplantation Processes in Tripura” was organised by the State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (SOTTO), Tripura, in collaboration with MOHAN Foundation. The workshop aimed to enhance healthcare professionals’ knowledge and practical understanding of deceased organ donation, brain stem death certification, counselling, and hospital-based organ donation processes.
The program commenced with participant registration at 9:00 a.m., during which doctors and healthcare professionals from various hospitals enrolled for the workshop.
Technical Sessions
The first technical session began at 10:00 a.m. and focused on the legal framework governing deceased organ donation in India. The session was delivered by Ms. Pallavi Kumar, Executive Director, MOHAN Foundation, Delhi NCR. She explained the provisions of the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOTA) and its implications for hospital practices. She also spoke about the evolution of deceased organ donation in India and discussed strategies for initiating and strengthening the program in new regions, offering valuable insights into capacity building and system development.
This was followed by a session by Dr. Deepak Gupta (Professor of Neurosurgery, JPN Apex Trauma Centre, AIIMS, Delhi), who elaborated on brain stem death identification, certification, and donor maintenance. He emphasized the importance of medical accuracy, ethical responsibility, and timely intervention. A simulation film on brain stem death testing was screened, enabling participants to visually understand the procedure. The session was highly interactive, with active participation and discussion.
Inaugural Function
The inaugural ceremony was held at approximately 11:35 a.m. with the arrival of the dignitaries:
Mr. Kirankumar Gitta (IAS), Secretary, Health & Family Welfare; Dr. Bidhan Goswami, Medical Superintendent, AGMC & GBP Hospital; Dr. H.P. Sharma, Director of Medical Education and Dr. Biplab Debnath, Principal, AGMC.
The ceremony began with welcome remarks by Dr. Manirul Islam, Nodal Officer, SOTTO Tripura, followed by felicitation of the dignitaries and lighting of the ceremonial lamp.
As part of the program, two donor families were felicitated in recognition of their noble and selfless contribution. Their interaction with the participants was deeply moving and reinforced the humanitarian spirit of organ donation.
The Medical Superintendent of GBP Hospital then addressed the gathering, welcoming all dignitaries and participants. He expressed his sincere gratitude to MOHAN Foundation for organising the workshop and acknowledged the Foundation’s continuous efforts in conducting awareness programs across colleges, institutions, and hospitals. He encouraged the team to continue expanding their work across Tripura and extended special thanks to Ms. Pallavi Kumar for her consistent support to GBP Hospital in strengthening organ donation and transplantation activities.
Dr. H.P. Sharma shared his thoughts and conveyed his appreciation to MOHAN Foundation for introducing and strengthening this life-saving initiative in the state.
Dr. Biplab Debnath, Principal, AGMC, also addressed the gathering and thanked MOHAN Foundation for bringing this noble program to Tripura. He highlighted the number of renal transplants performed in the state and emphasized the importance of developing a robust deceased organ donation system.
The Chief Guest, Mr. Kirankumar Gitta (IAS), expressed his happiness and appreciation for MOHAN Foundation’s dedicated work in saving lives. He encouraged all participants to actively contribute to this noble cause and urged them to think beyond themselves. He emphasized the need for more awareness programs, suggested organizing large-scale activities every month, and proposed involving village and community leaders to spread awareness on organ donation at the grassroots level.
Following his address, MOHAN Foundation released a short awareness video titled “Hope from Tripura.” The video is dedicated to all organ donors in India and aims to inspire hope among patients suffering from end-stage organ failure, particularly those unaware of organ donation and transplantation in Tripura. The video will be disseminated through social media platforms to reach a wider audience.
Post-Inaugural Sessions
Ms. Pallavi Kumar then conducted a session on breaking bad news and making the “ask,” focusing on sensitive and ethical communication with grieving families. The session was highly interactive and included extensive discussions, clarifications, and real-life queries, many of which were addressed by Dr. Deepak Gupta. This was followed by a lunch break.
Post-lunch, a panel discussion on real-life clinical scenarios was conducted, moderated by Dr. Deepak Gupta. The discussion covered common pitfalls in brain stem death declaration, brain death mimics, spinal reflexes, and ancillary testing. The panelists included:
• Dr. A. Sidda Reddy, Consultant, Neurosurgery, AGMC & GBP Hospital
• Dr. Abir Lal Nath, Assistant Professor, Neurology, AGMC & GBP Hospital
• Dr. Debadatta Saha, Assistant Professor, Neurosurgery, AGMC & GBP Hospital
• Dr. Paramita Debnath, Consultant, Anaesthesiology, ILS Hospital
• Dr. Vaskar Majumdar, Professor, Anaesthesiology, AGMC & GBP Hospital
The panelists were felicitated by SOTTO Tripura and MOHAN Foundation in appreciation of their contribution.
This was followed by a session titled “Cornea Donation: Need of the Hour,” presented by Dr. Sandip Sarkar, Ophthalmologist, AGMC & GBP Hospital, who highlighted the importance of eye donation and the challenges currently faced in the region.
At 3:00 p.m., Dr. Manirul Islam delivered a session on the roles and functions of SOTTO, ROTTO, and NOTTO in deceased organ donation and allocation, explaining coordination mechanisms at the state, regional, and national levels.
An interactive activity on the Deceased Organ Donation Pathway was then facilitated by Ms. Pallavi Kumar, encouraging participant involvement and practical understanding of the process.
This was followed by a focused discussion and planning session on developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for deceased organ donation at GBP Hospital. The session, facilitated by Dr. A. Sidda Reddy and Dr. Deepak Gupta, emphasized documentation, system strengthening, coordination, and the roles of Brain Death Committee members.
Valedictory Session
The program concluded with a valedictory function, during which certificates were distributed to all participants. The session marked the successful completion of the workshop and reaffirmed the collective commitment of all stakeholders toward strengthening deceased organ donation in Tripura.
Overall, the workshop proved to be highly informative and impactful, integrating legal, medical, ethical, and practical aspects of deceased organ donation. The collaborative efforts of SOTTO Tripura and MOHAN Foundation significantly contributed to capacity building among healthcare professionals, paving the way for a stronger organ donation and transplantation system in the state.
Approximately 37 doctors participated in the workshop, including representatives from Indira Gandhi Memorial (IGM) Hospital, ILS Hospital, and Tripura Medical College (TMC), Hapania, Tripura.
News coverage - https://newseyes.in/article.php?v=931
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