Andhra Pradesh ranks 6th in India for organ donation; 64 lives saved in just 2 months

Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh has emerged as one of the top-performing states in the country in organ donation, securing the sixth rank nationally in 2025.

Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav made the announcement on Tuesday, citing the latest state-wise rankings released by the National Organ and Tissue Transplantation Organisation (NOTTO) under the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Organ donors helped save 64 lives

The Minister said that in just the first two months of this year, organs collected from 18 brain-dead donors helped save 64 lives, reflecting a significant rise in public awareness and participation in organ donation across the state.

Review of Jeevandan activities after High Court directions

Following recent High Court directions regarding organ transplant surgeries in government hospitals, the Minister conducted a review meeting with officials of the Health Department and the Jeevandan Trust.

He noted that the number of hospitals performing organ transplant surgeries has increased from three to nine in the state.

The hospitals currently authorised to conduct transplant procedures include:

– King George Hospital (KGH), Visakhapatnam

– Visakha Institute of Medical Sciences (VIMS)

– Government General Hospital (GGH), Guntur

– Government General Hospital (GGH), Kurnool

– Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences (SVIMS), Tirupati

– AIIMS, Mangalagiri

– Padmavathi Children’s Heart Centre, Tirupati

– Kidney Research Centre and Super Speciality Hospital, Palasa

– Government General Hospital, Vijayawada

– Additionally, hospitals in Kakinada, Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Ongole, Anantapur, Kadapa and Tirupati have been granted permissions to retrieve organs from brain-dead patients and transport them to transplant centres.

The Minister directed officials to ensure visible progress in expanding transplant services in government hospitals.

Transplants conducted so far

Officials informed that through KGH and VIMS in Visakhapatnam, and government hospitals in Guntur and Kurnool, organs from brain-dead donors have enabled eight kidney transplants and one liver transplant so far.

In addition, 87 kidney transplants were performed with donations from blood relatives. Recently, a heart retrieved from a brain-dead donor at a private hospital near Vijayawada was successfully transplanted.

Growing public response

The Minister said the rising number of donations indicates increasing public generosity and awareness.

2026 (First two months): 18 brain-dead donors, 64 organs transplanted

2025 (First two months): 12 brain-dead donors, 31 organs transplanted

2024 (First two months): 10 brain-dead donors, 30 organs transplanted

He urged Jeevandan coordinators and voluntary organisations to further intensify awareness campaigns to support patients awaiting transplants.

1,200 patients given new life

Since its inception in 2015, following the bifurcation of the state, the Jeevandan programme has facilitated life-saving transplants for around 1,200 patients.

In the past year alone, 301 patients received transplants, marking a significant milestone in the state’s organ donation efforts.

Over 5,000 await organs

According to the Jeevandan Trust, 5,347 patients are currently registered and awaiting various organ transplants in the state.

Notably, a majority of them fall in the 20–50 years age group, indicating that organ failure is affecting people in their most productive years. Among the registered patients, 38 are children below nine years of age.

The Minister expressed concern that organ failure at such a young and productive age not only impacts families but also has broader social and economic consequences.

Government incentives for organ donation

To honour organ donors, the state government has issued GO 95, ensuring that individuals who donate organs after brain death are accorded official honours during their last rites.

The government also provides Rs 10,000 financial assistance to the donor’s family. The proposal to increase this assistance up to Rs 1 lakh is currently under consideration, the Minister said.

Emphasising the importance of collective responsibility, Satya Kumar Yadav called upon citizens to come forward and support organ donation, stating that each donor has the potential to save multiple lives and offer hope to families in distress.