Over 300,000 patients are on the waiting list for organ donations in India. The supply of organ donors has not kept up with the increasing demand. Approximately 20 individuals die daily while awaiting organ transplants due to shortage. Donor numbers, including both living and deceased, have shown slow growth rate over the years. From 6,916 donors in 2014, the count increased to about 16,041 in 2022, indicating a modest rise. The deceased organ donation rate in India has remained consistently below one donor per million population for a decade. Urgent efforts are required to raise the deceased organ donation rate to address the shortage. Countries like Spain and the United States have achieved significantly higher donation rates, ranging from 30 to 50 donors per million population. Living donors constitue the majority, accounting for 85% of all donors in India. However deceased organ donations,
especially for kidneys, liver, and heart, remain considerably low. Disparities in organ donation rates exist among different states in India. States like Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Gujarat and so on are prominent with high number of deceased donors. Whereas Delhi NCR, Kerala, Maharashtra and West Bengal are prominent regions with a high number of living donors. Kidney transplantation in India faces a significant disparity between demand and supply. Annual demand for 200,000 kidney transplants is met with only around 10,000 transplants each year, creating a substantial gap. Limited awareness among the general public about organ donation and its impact. Insufficient education among medical professionals to identify potential donors and counsel families effectively. Family reluctance to give consent for organ donation, even when the deceased individual had expressed a willingness to donate. Emotional and ethical dilemmas that families face when making decisions about organ donation. Illegal organ trafficking and the existence of a black market for organs. Criminal
activities exploiting
the demand for organs and undermining legitimate donation processes. Matching suitable donors and recipients based on medical compatibility and organ availability. Limited availability of compatible organs, leading to prolonged waiting periods for patients. National
Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) is set up under the Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, located in New Delhi. National Network division of NOTTO functions as the apex center for all Indian for procurement, distribution and registry of organs and tissues donation and transplantation in the country.
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