Telangana's Organ Donation Success Fails To Meet Demand

Telangana stands out as a leader in organ donation, registering 5.9 donations per million population—a stark contrast to the national average of just 0.8. Despite its progress, thousands of patients remain on waiting lists. At the World Transplant Day celebration held at a private hospital, experts emphasized the need for greater awareness and increased donation rates.

Dr D. Sree Bhushan Raju, head of nephrology at NIMS, revealed that over 18,000 patients are waiting for organs in Telangana, with Jeevandan receiving nearly 150 to 200 applications daily. Efforts to enhance organ donation have included collaboration between the government and private hospitals, using awareness campaigns involving police, journalists, NGOs, and community organizations.

Swapping Lifesaving Donations

The state recently introduced financial assistance of ₹10,000 for donor families. However, experts stressed that more needs to be done. With the demand for transplants rising, Telangana faces challenges in managing a backlog of approximately 15,000 patients awaiting kidney transplants, 3,500–4,000 needing liver transplants, and nearly 150 waiting for pancreas transplants.

Prof. James Neuberger from the NHS Blood and Transplant in the UK highlighted international practices such as Spain's opt-out system, suggesting that presumed consent alone does not increase donation rates significantly. He stressed the importance of dedicated transplant coordinators, trained healthcare professionals, and effective communication with bereaved families.

Swap transplantation, a solution for when direct family donation is not possible, has been incorporated into Telangana's programs since March 2025. Despite its success in organ retrieval, the state lags behind others like Maharashtra, which has more than 1.5 lakh pledgeregistrants, having only around 20,000 pledged donors.

Donors and recipients encouraged authorities to implement donor recognition policies similar to those for blood donors, including introducing donor cards. These could provide benefits such as healthcare discounts, special services, or tax credits. By boosting awareness and incentivizing donation, Telangana can improve its organ donation rates and better serve its waiting patients.

• Telangana's 5.9 organ donations per million population exceed the national average of 0.8.
• Nearly 18,000 patients are on waiting lists in Telangana for organs.
• Swap transplantation is now a recognized donor solution to address low family donation rates.
• Financial assistance was introduced but more awareness and policies are needed.