According to Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), number of organ transplants increased nearly fourfold over past decade – from fewer than 5,000 in 2013 to almost 20,000 in 2025.
- Around 18% of these involve organs donated by deceased donors, reflecting a rise in cadaveric (deceased donors) donations.
Reasons for Rising Success in Organ Donation/Transplantation
- Strengthened Institutional Capacity: Through National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) serving as national coordination authority, along with strengthened capacity for State and Regional OTTOs.
- Promotion of Green Corridors: Special traffic free routes to transport harvested organs quickly reducing logistical barriers.
- Positive Public Attitudes: Since September 17, 2023, over 4.8 lakh citizens have registered for organ and tissue donation through an Aadhaar-based verification system.
- Improved Infrastructure: Improved system for donor identification, retrieval and allocation across hospitals, collaboration between central, state governments and other stakeholders, etc.
Organ Transplantation Framework in India
- Legal Framework: Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994 (THOTA) enacted by the MoHFW.
- Regulatory Mechanism: Three tiered structure under THOTA, 1994:
- NOTTO: Apex body for coordination, networking, and registry of organ/tissue donation and transplantation.
- Regional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (ROTTO).
- State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (SOTTO).
- National Organ Transplant Program (NOTP): Central Sector Programme to improve access to organ transplantation for needy citizens.
