India climbs to third in global transplants
India Emerges as Global Leader in Organ Transplants: In 2024, India achieved a milestone by conducting 18,900 organ transplants, placing it third globally after the United States and China. This demonstrates the country’s advancing capabilities in medical treatment and infrastructure.
India also earned the top position in living donor organ transplants, highlighting the active role of citizens in donating organs to save lives.
Organ transplantation in India
Organ transplantation is a critical treatment for patients suffering from final-stage organ failure. It involves surgically transferring an organ from a donor, either alive or deceased, to a patient who requires it for survival.
In India, this practice is governed by the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOTA), 1994, with a key amendment made in 2011. The legislation ensures ethical procedures by prohibiting commercial organ trade and standardizing donation protocols.
Static GK fact: The THOTA Act was passed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to bring legal clarity to organ removal, storage, and transplantation processes.
Framework supporting transplants
To coordinate and improve transplant activities nationwide, the National Organ Transplant Program (NOTP) was set up. It focuses on boosting organ donation awareness, strengthening infrastructure, and supporting affordable transplant services.
The system functions through three key bodies:
- NOTTO at the national level,
- ROTTOs at regional levels, and
- SOTTOs at the state level.
Despite advancements, India continues to face a challenge: its deceased organ donation rate remains below 1 per million, far behind countries like Spain, where the rate exceeds 48 per million.
Static GK Tip: India’s first successful heart transplant was performed in 1994 in Chennai.
Government initiatives to improve organ donation
To create uniformity across states, the government introduced “One Nation One Policy”. Under this policy, criteria like state residency, age limits, and registration charges were removed for patients seeking deceased donor organs.
In September 2023, a new Aadhaar-integrated digital portal was launched, enabling citizens to officially pledge organ donation. This has seen over 3 lakh registrations already.
In 2024, the government rolled out the Angdaan Jan Jagrukta Abhiyan to build a national movement around organ donation awareness.
Static Usthadian Current Affairs Table
India Emerges as Global Leader in Organ Transplants:
| Fact | Detail |
| Total organ transplants in 2024 | 18,900 |
| India’s global transplant ranking | 3rd |
| India’s rank in living donor transplants | 1st |
| Key law governing organ donation | THOTA Act, 1994 (amended 2011) |
| Main government program | National Organ Transplant Program (NOTP) |
| Apex transplant body | National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) |
| Deceased donation rate in India | Less than 1 per million |
| Deceased donation rate in Spain | Over 48 per million |
| Digital pledge portal launch | September 2023 |
| 2024 awareness drive | Angdaan Jan Jagrukta Abhiyan |
