The State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation(SOTTO) Bihar is an apex networking Organisation working under NOTP programme of Government of India to monitor organ donation and transplant activity in the state of Bihar in coordination with National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) and Regional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (ROTTO).

In Bihar, SOTTO was set up in 2016 in the premises of IGIMS, Patna (Bihar). SOTTO Bihar aims to monitor organ and tissue transplant services and bring about policy and programmes as needed time to time. It also aims to organize a system of organ procurement and its fair distribution. It maintains a waiting list for the patients in need of organ transplant in Bihar and organs are allocated on the basis of accepted rules. It provides counseling services for organ donation in case of brain dead patients. So far SOTTO Bihar has carried out two successful deceased donations in which multiple organs were donated and saved the lives of patients in need of organs. Also, SOTTO is facilitating the establishment of Bihar’s first Biomaterial center in IGIMS, Patna.

In India Organ Donation is legal by law. The enactment of Transplant of Human Organ Act 1994, permits organ donation and has legalized the concept of brain death (a permanent and irreversible cessation of all functions of the brain). Thus, SOTTO Bihar looks forward to strengthen the law related to organ donation and transplant in the state of Bihar.

The rate of retrieval of organs and tissues from deceased body in India is very less when compared with developed nations. Due to non-retrieval, a large number of organs are wasted which could have saved the lives of many. The major reason behind the situation is that there exists a lot of myths and lack of awareness among the masses. There is a strong need to sensitize people on organ donation and its importance, for which SOTTO Bihar is committed.