Telangana has emerged as the national leader in organ donation in India, registering an organ donation rate of 4.88 donors per million population (pmp) in 2024, significantly exceeding the national average of 0.8 pmp.
The state’s achievement was recognised by Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda, who honoured Telangana’s Jeevandan programme with a prestigious award at the 15th Indian Organ Donation Day event organised by the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) in New Delhi.
This accolade highlights Telangana as a model state for its efficient and ethical organ donation system, marking a milestone in saving and improving lives through transplantation.
Growth of the Jeevandan Programme and Life-Saving Surgeries
Since the inception of the Jeevandan programme in 2012, Telangana has witnessed a remarkable increase in both organ donors and transplant surgeries. The programme, managed by the state’s Cadaver Transplantation Advisory Committee led by senior health officials and medical experts, has facilitated organ and tissue donations from more than 1,673 deceased donors resulting in over 6,309 organ and tissue transplants.
In 2024 alone, there were 188 brain-dead donors in the state, leading to 725 successful transplants — an upward trend reflecting years of concerted awareness campaigns, community involvement, and streamlined hospital coordination. Health Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha noted that new legal frameworks, such as the recently adopted Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOTA), ensure the equitable distribution of organs across society, further promoting public trust in the system.
Legal Reforms and Government Initiatives Propel Success
Underlying Telangana’s success is a combination of government support, comprehensive legislation, and increased public participation. The 2025 Transplantation of Human Organs Bill replaces the original 1995 Act, aiming to strengthen transparency, regulate transplantation activities, and tackle illegal organ trade effectively.
These legal advances, paired with the state’s Aarogyasri health scheme that provides free transplant surgeries, make organ donation accessible to all sections of society, especially those economically disadvantaged. The Jeevandan initiative has also benefitted from technology adoption and digital pledge drives, inspired by national efforts such as the Aadhaar-based NOTTO online pledge platform, which has garnered over 3.3 lakh organ donor pledges across India.
This synergy of policy, healthcare infrastructure, and citizen awareness has rendered Telangana a beacon of good governance and social empathy in healthcare.
Community Outreach and Empathetic Healthcare Practices
Telangana’s efforts extend beyond numbers; the state actively addresses myths and taboos about organ donation through community outreach programmes, seminars, and media campaigns, helping shift public perception positively.
Additionally, hospital staff receive specialised training to handle brain-death cases sensitively and to counsel families during difficult times, ensuring higher consent rates for donation. These humane practices underline the importance of empathy alongside policy in healthcare success stories.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Telangana’s leadership in organ donation offers an inspiring example of how good governance amalgamated with kindness, civic responsibility, and robust legal frameworks can bring about meaningful social change. The Jeevandan programme demonstrates the power of empathy and collective effort in healthcare, transforming loss into hope and saving thousands of lives.
The Logical Indian supports initiatives promoting transparency, inclusivity, and dialogue to overcome social taboos around organ donation. We urge other Indian states and communities to learn from Telangana’s model and work collaboratively to bridge the vast organ shortfall India faces today.
🏅 Telangana Leads the Nation in Organ Donation!
— Office of Minister for Health, Telangana (@TelanganaHealth) August 4, 2025
📈 4.88 donors per million population — 6x the national average (0.8 pmp)!
🏆 Awarded Best State/SOTTO by NOTTO at the 15th Indian Organ Donation Day💐#Jeevandan #OrganDonation #TelanganaLeads #HealthForAll pic.twitter.com/DSpscnon4N
