Written by:
Anoushka Pinto
Organ donation involves retrieving organs from a living or deceased person (the donor) and transplanting them into a recipient suffering from organ failure. This process, known as retrieval, can save lives, but India faces a severe shortage of organs available for transplantation.
India’s demand for organs far exceeds the supply. Over a million people suffer from end-stage organ failure annually, yet a recent National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) report suggests that only about 17,000 –18,000 transplants are performed each year in India. According to Organ India Every day, at least 15 patients die waiting for organs, and every 10 minutes, a new patient is added to the waiting list. Consequently, many lives are tragically lost to organ failure each year.
Annual deaths due to organ failure
Around 1.5 lakh people die each year due to lack of available organs.
Organ donation
rate
According to the World Health Organisation, only around 0.01% of people in India donate their organs after death.
Inadequate number of deceased donors
The total number of deceased organ donors in the country was a mere 1,028 in 2023, enabling over 3,000 transplants.
Transplant needs vs. reality
The annual requirement of approximately 500,000 organs, and the current organ availability meets only 2-3% of the demand.
(Source: NOTTO)
The life-saving impact of organ donation
A vital aspect of healthcare, organ donation offers a life-saving opportunity for patients with severe organ failure. A single donor can save up to 8 lives by donating organs such as the heart, kidneys, liver, pancreas, intestines, and lungs. Additionally, tissue donation from one donor can enhance the lives of over 50 people.
Organ donation is also a powerful way to find meaning in loss. When a loved one passes away, donating their organs can provide solace by knowing that their death has given life to others. Focusing on the humanitarian aspect of organ donation can greatly increase its acceptance and encourage more people to consider it as a way to honour their loved ones.
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Barriers to organ donation
1. Religious beliefs and myths
Misconceptions and superstitions discourage people from pledging their organs. Many people mistakenly believe that their faith prohibits organ donation. A widespread myth in many cultures is that donating organs interferes with the soul’s journey to salvation. Some believe that if the body is incomplete when buried or cremated, the soul remains restless, unable to find peace. Experts clarify that this belief is unfounded. Once a person passes away, their organs no longer serve a purpose within the body. Whether the body is cremated or buried with or without its organs makes no difference to the soul’s journey.
2. Lack of awareness
Many people are unaware of the benefits and process of organ donation. A lack of knowledge about what steps to take and fear of a bad reputation or legal repercussions can also deter people from considering organ donation.
3. Family hesitation
Many people feel shy or afraid to discuss organ donation with their families. Fear of the topic and not knowing how to approach the conversation can prevent people from making informed decisions. And so when the time comes, relatives often refuse to donate the organs of their deceased loved ones. Despite pledges, family resistance can occur due to beliefs or concerns about body mutilation or costs.
4. Systemic issues
Many healthcare providers are not well-informed about the importance and processes of organ donation. There is also inadequate coordination between medical institutions and a lack of proper infrastructure to support organ donation and transplantation. Thus, there is a need for more centres equipped to handle organ retrieval and transplantation.
How we can increase public awareness on organ donation
Raising awareness about organ donation, particularly from deceased donors (cadaveric donors), is essential for increasing the number of organ transplants in India.
1. Public education
To foster a culture of organ donation, it is vital to start early and integrate the topic into various aspects of education and media.
Schools and universities
Discussing organ donation in schools and incorporating it into the medical curriculum can instil the importance of this life-saving act from a young age. University education should also emphasise the significance of organ donation.
Media and celebrities
Frequent discussions in the media, including endorsements from celebrities, can significantly boost public awareness. When prominent figures talk about organ donation, it can inspire people to pledge their organs and contribute to increasing the donor pool.
Dispeling religious beliefs and myths
Religious leaders and communities need to spread the understanding of organ donation as an act of compassion and generosity to dispel myths and encourage organ donation.
2. Overcoming resistance
By registering as an organ donor and encouraging others to do the same, you can help save lives and improve the quality of life for many.
3. Encouraging family support
Encouraging family members to support your decision to donate can foster a culture of understanding and acceptance. Clear communication and honest discussions about organ donation within families and communities can normalise the topic and make it easier for potential donors to express their wishes. Many state governments actively promote organ donations and honour donor families for their selfless acts.
4. Consider making organ donations a norm
Organ donation should become a natural part of end-of-life care. Healthcare systems need to be equipped to manage donors and support their families. Clear, accessible information about the donation process, legal protections, and the positive impact of donation can alleviate these fears. Improved communication from healthcare providers and organ donation organisations can help simplify the process.
5. Awareness campaigns and organ donation drives
Awareness campaigns and organ donation drives not only encourage individuals to pledge their organs but also lead potential recipients to register at approved centres. This dual effect enhances both the donor and recipient pools, resulting in more organ transplants.
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Government efforts to increase awareness
Awareness campaigns by the government, NGOs, and individuals are crucial in instilling the importance of organ donation in the country. The Government of India has launched the National Organ Transplant Programme (NOTP) to enhance organ donation and transplantation across the country. Key initiatives under this programme include:
Establishment of organisations
Setting up State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organizations (SOTTOs) in each State/UT, along with National and Regional Bio-material Centres.
Infrastructure development
Establishing new and strengthening existing organ transplant and retrieval facilities.
Support for transplant coordinators
Providing transplant coordinators to medical colleges and trauma centres.
Financial aid
Supporting maintenance and dignified funerals for deceased donors, and providing post-transplant immunosuppressant drugs to Below Poverty Line (BPL) patients.
Under the NOTP, the following have been established to carry out awareness programs to educate the public and encourage organ donation:
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As of June 2024, around 155,613 people have pledged to donate their organs after death on the NOTTO website. Some states have made significant progress. For instance, Karnataka ranked second in India with 178 organ donations in 2023, showing a promising trend towards increased donations . Telangana was recognized as the state with the highest number of deceased donors in 2022.
Despite this potential, India’s organ donation rate is extremely low compared to other countries, leading to a high mortality rate among patients awaiting transplants.
Awareness and training
Under the NOTP, the following have been established to carry out awareness programs to educate the public and encourage organ donation:
Information dissemination
NOTTO, ROTTOs, and SOTTOs provide public information about organ donation through a dedicated website and a 24x7 call centre (toll-free helpline: 1800-114-770).
Awareness activities
Activities such as Indian Organ Donation Day celebrations, seminars, workshops, debates, sports events, walkathons, and nukkad nataks (street plays) are organised nationwide.
Media campaigns
Awareness is promoted through print media, audio-visual messages, expert talks on Doordarshan and other TV channels, and social media campaigns under the Jan Andolan initiative.
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Register as an organ donor: Simple steps to save lives
Registering as an organ donor is a straightforward process that can have a profound impact.
Ways to donate
Pledging during lifetime
Fill out a donor form in the presence of two witnesses, one of whom must be a near relative.
Family consent after death
If not registered, the family can consent to organ donation after death.
Here’s how you can register to be a donor
Online registration
Sign up with the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) or your state’s organ donation organisation.
Hospital or donation organisation
Complete a donor registration form at a hospital or authorised donation organisation.
Carry an organ donor card
Always keep your organ donor card with you. It signals your commitment to this selfless act.
Inform your family
Make sure your family is aware of your decision to be an organ donor. Their consent will be required at the time of your death. The organs will then be harvested within a few hours, with no extra burden or disfigurement to the body. The process is handled with dignity.
Note: You do not need to undergo medical tests to register as an organ donor. Simply fill out the pledge form on NOTTO’s website or through registered NGOs or authorised hospitals.
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Process of organ donation
1. Living donor
Medical evaluation
The living donor undergoes medical tests to confirm compatibility with the recipient
Surgical retrieval
If compatible, the donor’s organs are surgically retrieved and stored briefly before transplantation.
Post-procedure care
The living donor remains under medical care until fit to go home.
2. Deceased donor
Brain Death declaration
A deceased donor is someone declared brain dead by medical experts after a fatal injury or brain hemorrhage.
Family consent
The donor’s family must consent to the donation. The donor is kept on life support until organ retrieval.
Recipient notification
Suitable recipients are identified and notified to reach their hospitals.
Dignified handling
After retrieval, the donor’s body is respectfully handed back to the family.
Spread awareness and say yes to organ donation: A gift of life
Organ donation has the potential to save thousands of lives in India each year. However, to bridge the gap between the high demand and the limited supply, there is an urgent need to raise awareness, dispel myths, and improve the infrastructure supporting organ donation and transplantation. By doing so, more lives can be saved, and the noble act of organ donation can become a widespread practice in India.
How Milaap can help
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Organ transplant success stories on Milaap
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