Health Ministry Eases Corneal Transplant Rules to Boost Eye Donation & Access
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has notified the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues (Amendment) Rules, 2025 under the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994, aligning with the government’s vision to ensure equitable access to organ and tissue transplantation services.
The amendment strengthens the National Organ Transplant Programme (NOTP) and aims to streamline the operations of corneal transplantation centres across India. One of the key changes includes the removal of the mandatory requirement for Clinical Specular equipment in corneal transplantation centres.
The decision follows extensive expert reviews and stakeholder consultations and is expected to ease infrastructural and operational hurdles — particularly benefiting smaller eye centres in rural and semi-urban regions.
By reducing compliance burdens and promoting accessibility, the amendment is poised to significantly enhance the country’s cornea donation and transplantation ecosystem, ensuring more patients receive timely and affordable eye care.
