India Marks 15th Organ Donation Day With Call for Nationwide Jan Andolan

India celebrated a significant milestone in public health and humanitarian service with the 15th Indian Organ Donation Day, held on 2nd August 2025 at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi. Organised by the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the event was a powerful affirmation of the country’s commitment to strengthening its organ donation ecosystem and transforming grief into life through the selfless act of donation.

Themed under the year-long campaign “Angdaan – Jeevan Sanjeevani Abhiyan,” the occasion focused on raising awareness, recognising donor heroes, and accelerating India’s journey towards making organ donation a people’s movement — a “Jan Andolan.”

Visionary Leadership, National Commitment

Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda, Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilizers, led the celebration, reaffirming the Government of India’s unwavering commitment to expanding access to organ transplantation services across the nation.

“Under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, the government is streamlining organ donation and transplantation to benefit more citizens. We are strengthening infrastructure, expanding training, and improving organ movement between cities and states to make transplants timely and successful,” said Shri Nadda.

He lauded organ donation as one of the noblest acts of humanity, reflecting compassion, hope, and the triumph of life over loss. He emphasized the vital need to dispel myths and misconceptions that prevent families from giving timely consent for donation.

A Surge in Pledges, Record-Breaking Transplants

Since the launch of the Aadhaar-based NOTTO online pledge platform in 2023, over 3.3 lakh citizens have pledged their organs — a historic milestone in public participation.

India has made remarkable progress in transplant achievements:

• 18,900+ organ transplants were conducted in 2024, the highest in Indian history.

• The country now ranks third globally in total transplants, after the USA and China.

• India has emerged as a global leader in hand transplants, showcasing its advanced surgical capabilities.

“Each organ donor is a silent hero. One person can save up to eight lives, and transform many more through tissue donation,” Shri Nadda stated.

Financial Support and Health System Strengthening

The minister highlighted the government’s inclusive efforts to support poor patients:

• ₹15 lakh assistance under Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi for poor patients undergoing kidney, liver, heart, or lung transplants.

• ₹10,000 monthly support for post-transplant medical expenses.

• Kidney transplant packages now covered under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY.

He stressed the role of Ayurveda and Yoga in preventive health, advocating for healthy lifestyles to reduce the burden of organ failure.

“Let’s adopt the Prime Minister’s message to reduce oil consumption by 10%, and make conscious lifestyle choices that protect our organs,” he urged.

Honouring Heroes: Donors, Doctors, and Champions

The event saw the felicitation of 10 donor families and 4 transplant recipients, acknowledging their profound contributions. Winners of the ROTTO Transplant Games were also honoured.

Key recognitions included:

• Best ROTTO Region: ROTTO North

• Best State: Tamil Nadu

• Best Union Territory: Puducherry

• Best Northeast State: Manipur

• Emerging States: Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan

• Promotion of Organ Donation: Rajasthan, Karnataka, Gujarat

• Highest Deceased Organ Donation Rate: Telangana

Institutional awards:

• Best NOTTO-RC: Civil Hospital, Surat

• Best Govt. Hospital (Transplantation): KDRC-ITS, Gujarat

• Emerging Institution: AIIMS Nagpur

• Best in Eye Banking: National Eye Bank, AIIMS Delhi

• Best Brain Stem Death Certifying Team: Madras Medical College & Rajiv Gandhi Govt. Hospital, Tamil Nadu

• Special Honours: Dr. Raghavendran R. and Dr. Gomathi Karmegam from ROTO South

Stakeholders Speak: Call for Action

Smt. Nivedita Shukla Verma, Acting Secretary, Health & Family Welfare, paid tribute to donors and acknowledged the 1994 Transplantation of Human Organs Act and AIIMS’ first heart transplant, which laid the foundation of India’s transplant ecosystem. She raised concern about the organ shortage, noting:

• Over 63,000 kidney and 22,000 liver transplant patients are currently on waiting lists.

• India’s donation rate remains below 1% of the population.

• The government aims to promote awareness in every village and household.

She emphasised the need for better coordination, donor identification, infrastructure expansion, and digital tracking through NOTTO.

“Let’s make ethical organ donation an integral part of public health by embracing transparency, timeliness, and equity,” she urged.

Recognising the Real Heroes

Dr. Sunita Sharma, Director General of Health Services, praised donor families as “real heroes”, and urged every stakeholder — including states, hospitals, and civil society — to unite in closing the gap between organ demand and availability.

She acknowledged the importance of state collaboration, robust certification of brain stem death, and ethical practices in scaling up transplant services.

“Only collective action can make a real difference. Together, we can ensure that no life is lost due to lack of an organ,” she affirmed.

Publications Launched

The event also saw the release of several key publications:

• NOTTO Annual Report 2024–2025

• E-newsletter of NOTTO

• Organ Donation Awareness Booklet (for public and students)

• Ayurveda & Yoga-based Organ Health Guide

• Best Practices in State Organ Donation & Transplantation

These documents are expected to be used widely for capacity building, policy reference, and public outreach.

A National Jan Andolan Begins

The celebration concluded with an Organ Donation Pledge by all participants — including government officials, healthcare professionals, donor families, and NGOs — symbolising a unified national effort to create an inclusive, ethical, and accessible transplant ecosystem.

Shri Nadda gave a clarion call to turn organ donation into a “Jan Andolan”, embodying the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam — the world is one family.

As India moves towards becoming a global leader in public health, organ donation and transplant equity will be critical pillars in building a healthier, stronger, and more compassionate nation.