In a significant milestone for healthcare in the state, Karnataka recorded its highest-ever number of organ donors in 2025, providing a beacon of hope for thousands awaiting life-saving transplants. The state registered 198 organ donors, propelling it to the third position in the national ranking.
Record Numbers Amidst a Long Waiting List
This achievement, as reported by Jeevasarthakathe, the State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (SOTTO), surpasses the previous highs of 178 donations in 2023 and 162 in 2024. Despite this progress, the race to save lives continues, with approximately 5,500 patients still on the waiting list in Karnataka. Nationally, Tamil Nadu led with 267 donations, followed by Telangana with 205. Of Karnataka's 198 donors, 150 were male and 48 were female.
The demand for organs remains stark. Currently, around 4,700 patients are awaiting kidney transplants, and another 650 need liver transplants in the state. The most retrieved organs in 2025 included kidneys (306), corneas (288), livers (167), and heart valves (76). Other tissues successfully retrieved were hearts, lungs, skin, bones, and small intestines.
Geographic Concentration and Future Focus
Dr. Ravishankar Shetty K, the state coordinator for SOTTO, attributed the record donations to increased public awareness, with more people willingly coming forward. However, he highlighted a crucial challenge: 80-85% of donations are concentrated in Bengaluru and, to some extent, Mysuru.
"For the next year, our aim is to focus on districts, create more awareness there, and encourage donations through medical college hospitals and non-transplant human organ retrieval centres (NTHORCs)," Dr. Shetty stated. This district-level push is seen as vital for bridging the gap between the supply and demand of organs.
Strategic Collaborations to Boost Donation Rates
To systematically improve donor identification, SOTTO has initiated key collaborations. Last year, it partnered with the police department to appoint a DSP-rank officer as a nodal officer. This officer's role is to identify accident-prone areas and coordinate with district hospital teams regarding potential organ donors in cases of fatal head injuries.
Furthermore, SOTTO aims to work with the higher education department to boost awareness among the youth and encourage more students to pledge their organs. These multi-pronged strategies aim to build a more robust and widespread organ donation ecosystem across Karnataka.
The journey from 70 donors in 2016 to 198 in 2025 shows a positive trajectory, but the persistent waiting list of thousands underscores the urgent need for sustained efforts and expanded geographical reach in organ donation awareness and infrastructure.
