Tamil Nadu awarded Best State for organ donation leadership

Tamil Nadu has once again been recognised as India's leading State in organ donation, receiving the 'Best State' award from the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The State has recorded steady progress in organ donation and transplantation over the years, with 266 deceased donors and 1,476 organs utilised in 2025.

Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel presented the award to Tamil Nadu Health Minister K.G. Arunraj at the 16th Indian Organ Donation Day event held in New Delhi on Monday, August 3, 2026. According to a press release, the award was given in appreciation of the State's services in the field of deceased organ donation. The award citation said, "The commitment of the State has helped in giving a new life to the patients suffering from end-stage organ failure."

Several other recognitions were also announced at the event. The family of Sabarish, who was declared brain dead on May 16, 2025, and whose organs were donated at the Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai, was honoured with an award. The 'Best Transplant Coordinator' award was presented to R. Vinothkumar, transplant coordinator at Government Medical College Hospital, Tirunelveli, for facilitating the highest number of organ donations from brain dead individuals in 2025.

The Transplant Authority of Tamil Nadu (TRANSTAN) has been functioning effectively to streamline and regulate organ transplant activities in the State. According to data from TRANSTAN, the State's deceased donor transplant programme started in 2008 with seven donors and reached an all-time high of 268 in 2024. Though the programme witnessed a sharp decline during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the number of donors falling to 55 in 2020 and 60 in 2021, it regained momentum thereafter, reaching 156 donors in 2022.

In 2025, there were 266 deceased donors – 211 men and 55 women. Government hospitals accounted for more than half of the donors, contributing 154 (57.9%), while private hospitals accounted for 112 donors (42.1%). A total of 1,476 organs were utilised – 856 major organs and 620 minor organs and tissues.

At the national level, Tamil Nadu ranks first in heart and lung transplants. The State also ranks high in creating awareness about organ donation. The Tamil Nadu government has been according State honours to brain dead donors, with District Collectors paying honour on behalf of the State government. From September 2023, when a Government Order was issued, to the end of July 2026, 798 donors were given State honours.

From the inception of the deceased donor transplant programme in October 2008 to July 2026, 14,532 organs have been donated by 2,490 donors in Tamil Nadu. This includes 8,797 major organs such as 1,027 hearts, 1,071 lungs, 2,204 livers, 4,394 kidneys, 49 pancreas, 39 small bowels, four stomachs and nine hands, and 5,735 other minor organs and tissues such as 1,107 heart valves, 3,677 corneas, 395 skin, 525 bones, 26 spinal cord and disc tissues, and three abdominal flaps, the release said.

Punya Salila Srivastava, Secretary, Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Aneesh Sekhar, Mission Director, National Health Mission, Tamil Nadu, and N. Gopalakrishnan, former Member Secretary, Transplant Authority of Tamil Nadu, were present at the event.