Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda on Saturday described organ donation as one of humanity’s noblest acts, emphasizing its profound impact in a world of advancing medical science. Speaking at the 15th Indian Organ Donation Day ceremony organized by the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, he highlighted India’s remarkable progress in organ transplantation, with over 18,900 transplants performed in 2024, the highest in a single year, compared to fewer than 5,000 in 2013.
Nadda noted that India ranks third globally in organ transplants, behind only the United States and China, and leads the world in hand transplants, showcasing the country’s cutting-edge surgical capabilities. He credited the Aadhaar-based NOTTO online pledge website, launched in 2023, for driving public participation, with over 3.30 lakh citizens pledging to donate organs, marking a historic milestone.
The event, held under the year-long “Angdaan-Jeevan Sanjeevani Abhiyan” campaign, aimed to raise awareness, dispel myths, and encourage organ donation pledges. Nadda stressed the growing gap between the demand for organs and available donors, driven by a rise in organ failure cases and a lack of awareness. “Each donor is a silent hero, transforming grief into hope. One person can save up to eight lives through organ donation and countless more through tissue donation,” he said.
To make transplants more accessible, the government provides financial support of up to Rs 15 lakh for kidney, liver, heart, and lung transplants under the Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi, with additional monthly aid of Rs 10,000 for post-transplant care. Kidney transplants are also covered under the Ayushman Bharat scheme. Nadda urged citizens to adopt healthier lifestyles, including yoga and Ayurveda, to prevent organ failure, echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to reduce oil consumption by 10 percent for better health.
Acting Health Secretary Nivedita Shukla Verma highlighted the global organ shortage, noting India’s donation rate remains below 1 percent. With over 63,000 people awaiting kidney transplants and 22,000 needing liver transplants, she emphasized the need for timely donations, particularly from accident victims. The government is working to promote organ donation at the grassroots level, supported by NOTTO’s efforts to strengthen infrastructure and train manpower.
Director General of Health Services Sunita Sharma praised donor families as “real heroes” and called for collective action to bridge the organ demand-supply gap. During the event, NOTTO’s Annual Report 2024-25, e-newsletter, and three awareness booklets on organ donation, organ health through Ayurveda and yoga, and best practices by states were released. Ten donor families and four recipients were felicitated, along with winners of the ROTTO Transplant Games.
Awards were presented to recognize outstanding contributions. ROTTO North was named the best region, Tamil Nadu the best state, Puducherry the best Union Territory, and Manipur the best Northeast state. Odisha, Punjab, and Rajasthan were recognized as emerging states, while Telangana recorded the highest deceased organ donation rate. Institutions like Civil Hospital, Surat, and AIIMS Nagpur were also honored.
