India Witnesses Historic Expansion in Organ Donation Movement

Landmark Growth in Transplant Numbers

India Witnesses Historic Expansion in Organ Donation Movement: India has recorded a remarkable rise in organ transplantation, reflecting major health system improvements. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), the total number of organ transplants increased from fewer than 5,000 in 2013 to nearly 20,000 in 2025. This represents almost a fourfold increase in just over a decade.

Nearly 18% of these transplants involved organs from deceased donors. The rise in cadaveric donation marks a significant cultural and institutional shift in the country’s healthcare landscape.

Static GK fact: India has one of the world’s largest public healthcare systems, managed primarily by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Institutional Strengthening

A key driver of this success has been the strengthening of institutional capacity. The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) acts as the apex coordination body for organ donation and transplantation in India.

It operates alongside Regional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organizations (ROTTOs) and State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organizations (SOTTOs). This three-tiered framework ensures efficient allocation, registration, and networking across states.

Static GK Tip: NOTTO is headquartered in New Delhi and maintains the national registry for organ donation.

Promotion of Green Corridors

The introduction of Green Corridors has significantly reduced transportation delays. These are specially designated, traffic-free routes created to transport harvested organs quickly between hospitals.

Timely transport is critical because organs like the heart and lungs have a limited preservation window. Green Corridors have improved survival rates and minimized logistical barriers in metropolitan cities.

Positive Public Participation

Public awareness has played a major role in this transformation. Since September 17, 2023, over 4.8 lakh citizens have registered for organ and tissue donation using an Aadhaar-based verification system.

This reflects growing public trust and a shift toward voluntary participation. Awareness campaigns and digital registration platforms have simplified the process of pledging organs.

Static GK fact: Aadhaar is a 12-digit unique identity number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).

Improved Infrastructure and Coordination

India has also strengthened its donor identification and organ retrieval systems. Hospitals now follow standardized protocols for organ allocation and preservation.

Better coordination between the central government, state governments, and private stakeholders has enhanced transparency. This integrated framework has improved equity in access to transplantation services.

Legal and Policy Framework

The legal backbone of organ transplantation in India is the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOTA), 1994. Enacted by the MoHFW, it regulates organ donation and prevents commercial exploitation.

Under THOTA, a three-tier regulatory structure operates through NOTTO, ROTTO, and SOTTO. Additionally, the National Organ Transplant Programme (NOTP) functions as a Central Sector Scheme to expand access for economically weaker patients.

Static GK Tip: THOTA was amended in 2011 to include tissue transplantation and strengthen regulatory mechanisms.

India’s progress demonstrates how legal reform, institutional strengthening, infrastructure development, and public participation together can transform a healthcare sector. The steady rise in deceased donations signals a maturing organ donation ecosystem and a growing culture of social responsibility.

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India Witnesses Historic Expansion in Organ Donation Movement: