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With 33 donors, January 2026 sets a record in deceased organ donations in Tamil Nadu

February 13, 2026 4 min read Social Issues Science & Technology GS2 (Social Issues Health)
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What Happened

  • Tamil Nadu recorded 33 deceased organ donors in January 2026, setting a new monthly record for the state.
  • Government Dharmapuri Medical College Hospital was the maximum contributor, functioning as the Non-Transplant Organ Retrieval Centre (NTORC).
  • The achievement builds on Tamil Nadu's position as India's leading state in deceased organ donation, having recorded 268 deceased donors in 2024, the highest in the country.
  • The milestone reflects the continued success of Tamil Nadu's institutional framework for organ donation, which has been held as a model for the rest of India.

Static Topic Bridges

Organ Donation Framework in India: THOA and NOTTO

Organ donation and transplantation in India is governed by the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOTA), originally enacted in 1994 and amended in 2011 and 2014. The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) functions as the apex body for coordinating procurement, allotment, and distribution of organs across the country. Despite the legal and institutional framework, India's deceased organ donation rate remains abysmally low.

  • India's deceased organ donation rate is approximately 0.65 per million population (pmp), compared to Spain (35.1 pmp), the US (21.9 pmp), and the UK (15.5 pmp)
  • THOTA defines brain death and mandates its certification as a prerequisite for deceased organ donation
  • NOTTO maintains the National Organ Transplant Registry and coordinates inter-state organ sharing
  • The 2014 amendment expanded the definition of "near relative" and introduced the concept of "swap donation"
  • India performed the second-highest number of transplants globally in 2019, but largely from living donors

Connection to this news: Tamil Nadu's record demonstrates what is possible within India's legal framework when institutional support, awareness, and hospital-level systems are effectively implemented, highlighting the gap between the state's 1.8 pmp rate and the national average of 0.65 pmp.

The Tamil Nadu Organ Donation Model

Tamil Nadu pioneered India's deceased organ donation programme through the Tamil Nadu Cadaver Transplant Programme, launched on September 16, 2008, under the Transplant Authority of Tamil Nadu (TRANSTAN). The state was the first to make brain death certification mandatory (2008) and the first to create "green corridors" for rapid organ transport. A key catalyst was the 2008 case of physician parents donating the organs of their 15-year-old son after a motorcycle accident.

  • Between 2008 and 2019, Tamil Nadu recorded 7,783 organ transplants under the programme
  • In 2024, the state recorded 268 deceased donors, the highest in India
  • The "State Honour" initiative recognises donor families, significantly boosting public willingness
  • TRANSTAN coordinates between 50+ hospitals in the state for organ retrieval and allocation
  • Non-Transplant Organ Retrieval Centres (NTORCs) extend the network to district hospitals without transplant facilities

Connection to this news: The Dharmapuri Medical College Hospital functioning as an NTORC illustrates how Tamil Nadu's decentralised model extends organ retrieval to smaller towns and government hospitals, not just metro transplant centres, ensuring no potential donation is missed.

Brain Death Certification and Ethical Issues

Brain death, defined as the irreversible cessation of all functions of the entire brain including the brainstem, is legally recognised as death under Indian law for the purpose of organ donation. Certification requires a panel of four doctors (including the registered medical practitioner in charge, a neurologist/neurosurgeon, and a member nominated by the hospital). Two successive examinations at six-hour intervals are required.

  • The concept of brain death was first internationally formalised by the Harvard Committee in 1968
  • In India, Form 10 under THOTA rules specifies the brain death certification process
  • Many hospitals, especially in rural areas, lack trained personnel and infrastructure for brain death certification
  • Ethical concerns include family consent protocols, religious beliefs about death, and the opt-in vs. opt-out debate
  • Countries like Spain use a "presumed consent" (opt-out) system, contributing to their high donation rates

Connection to this news: Tamil Nadu's record is partly attributable to its early adoption of mandatory brain death certification, ensuring that potential donors are identified systematically rather than being missed due to lack of awareness or certification capacity.

Key Facts & Data

  • Tamil Nadu recorded 33 deceased organ donors in January 2026 (new monthly record)
  • India's organ donation rate: 0.65 per million population (Spain: 35.1, US: 21.9)
  • Tamil Nadu's rate: approximately 1.8 pmp (7 times the national average in 2018)
  • THOTA enacted in 1994, amended in 2011 and 2014
  • Tamil Nadu Cadaver Transplant Programme launched in September 2008
  • The state recorded 268 deceased donors in 2024, highest in India
  • Government Dharmapuri Medical College Hospital functioned as NTORC
  • Brain death certification requires 4-doctor panel and two examinations 6 hours apart