India Eases Corneal Transplant Rules to Boost Accessibility

On November 6, 2025, the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare amended the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues (Amendment) Rules to boost cornea donation and transplant services across the country. The key change is the removal of the mandatory requirement for clinical specular microscopes in corneal transplantation centers.

These specialized microscopes are used to assess the health and density of corneal endothelial cells. However, the ministry has determined that this equipment is no longer a critical necessity, based on expert recommendations and stakeholder consultations.

The amendment is expected to ease infrastructural and operational challenges, particularly for smaller eye centers in rural and semi-urban areas. This, in turn, will enhance the overall availability and accessibility of corneal transplantation services nationwide.

The move aligns with the government's vision to promote equitable access to organ and tissue transplantation. It strengthens the National Organ Transplant Programme and streamlines the functioning of corneal transplantation centers, facilitating wider accessibility to eye donation and transplantation services.

Corneal blindness is the second-leading cause of blindness in the over-50 age group in India, with an estimated 1.2 million corneal blind persons and 25,000-30,000 new cases added annually. The amended rules aim to address this significant public health issue by improving the reach and efficiency of corneal transplant services across the country.