Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda on Saturday reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening the organ donation and transplantation ecosystem in India, underlining that initiatives are being streamlined to ensure timely and smooth organ movement and transplants across the country.
Addressing the 15th Indian Organ Donation Day celebrations at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, organized by the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO), Nadda said, “Organ donation is one of the noblest acts of humanity. Today is a day that celebrates compassion and the triumph of life over loss.”
He noted that despite advancements, the gap between organ demand and availability remains significant due to lack of awareness and misconceptions. He called for greater public dialogue, timely consent, and a robust system to support deceased donation.
Highlighting recent progress, Nadda revealed that since the launch of the Aadhaar-based NOTTO online pledge platform in 2023, over 3.3 lakh citizens have pledged their organs, marking a major step in public participation. India performed 18,900 organ transplants in 2024, the highest ever, making the country the third-largest globally after the US and China. He also pointed out that India now leads the world in hand transplants, showcasing advanced surgical capabilities.
Nadda outlined government initiatives to support patients, including financial assistance of up to ₹15 lakh for poor patients under the Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi and coverage of kidney transplant under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY. Additionally, ₹10,000 per month is provided to post-transplant patients to cover medical costs.
The Minister urged citizens to adopt healthy lifestyles, yoga, and Ayurveda to prevent organ failure, citing the Prime Minister’s call to reduce oil consumption by 10% as a step toward better health. “Each organ donor is a silent hero who can save up to eight lives and transform many more through tissue donation,” he said.
Acting Health Secretary Nivedita Shukla Verma and DGHS Dr. Sunita Sharma also addressed the gathering, stressing the need to boost infrastructure, identify potential donors, and train skilled manpower. Verma noted that India’s organ donation rate is still under 1%, with 63,000 people awaiting kidney transplants and 22,000 waiting for liver transplants.
The event saw the release of NOTTO’s Annual Report 2024-25, an e-newsletter, awareness booklets, and recognition of states, institutions, and individuals contributing to organ donation. Tamil Nadu was named Best State, Puducherry the Best Union Territory, and ROTTO North the Best Regional Organization. Telangana was recognized for having the highest deceased organ donation rate.
Ten donor families and four transplant recipients were felicitated, and an organ donation pledge was undertaken to promote the cause nationwide.
India observes Organ Donation Month every July under the “Angdaan – Jeevan Sanjeevani Abhiyan”, with a series of awareness campaigns, pledging drives, and outreach activities.
