India Pushes for Increased Organ Donation: A Lifesaving National Movement
It is only through the concerted efforts of every individual and institutions that India can realise its vision of becoming one of the leading countries in organ donation and transplantation: Anupriya Patel
Urges officials to take all steps to ensure that no received organs are wasted before getting transplanted
Family members of deceased donors, recipients and other stakeholders felicitated on the occasion
The e-Newsletter, NOTTO’s Annual Report, and Organ Transport Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) released at the event
Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Anupriya Patel, emphasised the urgent need to promote organ donation from deceased persons, including those who are brain stem dead, during the 14th Indian Organ Donation Day ceremony organised by the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO). The event, attended by NITI Aayog Member (Health) Dr. V K Paul, highlighted the life-saving impact of organ donations, noting that one donor can give new life to up to eight people.
Patel commended the families of deceased organ donors for their selfless contributions and urged more citizens to pledge their organs posthumously. She noted India's progress in organ transplantation, despite lagging behind countries like Spain, the USA, and China. The Minister stressed the importance of ensuring that no donated organs go to waste and called for a collective effort to increase organ donations across the nation.
Dr. V K Paul highlighted the significant gap between the demand for and supply of organs, pointing out that only around 750 institutions provide organ transplantation services. He encouraged more institutions to offer such services and called for greater coverage by insurance companies. Paul also praised the Union Government's efforts to streamline organ transplantation processes, such as the "One Nation, One Policy" initiative, which has removed domicile and age-related barriers.
Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra stressed the need to raise awareness about organ donation and improve systems to prevent organ wastage. He noted that India, ranking third globally in organ transplantation, still relies heavily on family donations and urged more people to register as organ donors.
During the ceremony, the Union Minister honoured ten family members of deceased donors and four organ recipients. Awards were presented to states, organisations, and individuals for their contributions to organ donation and transplantation. NOTTO, SOTTO, and ROTTO were recognised for their roles in this effort, with ROTTO North-PGIMER, Chandigarh, receiving the Best ROTTO Award.
The event also featured the launch of an e-Newsletter, NOTTO’s Annual Report, and a manual introducing the Organ Transport Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). As part of the "Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav" campaign, a special "Angdaan Mahotsav" was organised in 2023, with July observed as Organ Donation Month. The campaign aimed to raise awareness about organ donation and encourage citizens to pledge their organs through the web portal https://notto.abdm.gov.in, where over 1.7 lakh citizens have registered since September 2023.
Indian Organ Donation Day has been observed annually since 2010 to raise awareness about brain stem death and organ donation, dispel myths, and encourage citizens to consider organ donation. The campaign also promotes healthy lifestyles to reduce the need for organ transplants. The 14th Indian Organ Donation Day serves as an opportunity to motivate people to contribute to bridging the gap between the demand for and supply of organs, underscoring the precious and life-saving nature of each donated organ.