Union Minister Smt. Anupriya Patel Calls for Strengthening Organ Donation Movement

The 16th Indian Organ Donation Day (IODD) was observed today with the national event organised by the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) under the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare at New Delhi. The event reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to strengthening India’s organ donation and transplantation programme while honouring the invaluable contribution of deceased organ donors and their families.

The programme was attended by the Union Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilisers, Smt. Anupriya Patel, in the presence of Union Health Secretary Smt. Punya Salila Srivastava, Director General of Health Services Dr. Loveneesh G. Krishna, Director, NOTTO, Dr. Anil Kumar, senior officials of the Ministry, representatives from States and Union Territories, donor families, transplant recipients, healthcare professionals and other stakeholders.

She noted that India has made significant strides in organ transplantation, with the number of transplants increasing from 4,990 in 2013 to over 20,000 in 2025, the highest ever recorded in a single year. India now ranks third globally in the total number of organ transplants, after the United States and China.

Director General of Health Services Dr. Loveneesh G. Krishna stated, that the 16th Indian Organ Donation Day is a day of gratitude to honour organ donors and their families and celebrate the gift of life. He noted that the day commemorates India’s first successful deceased organ transplant performed on 3rd August 1994. (UPDATED ON 3RD AUGUST 2026)