In 2024, India achieved 18,900 organ transplants, placing it behind only the US and China yet organ donation rates remain under 1% of the population, leaving thousands without lifesaving transplants. 

A significant shortfall persists: around five lakh people die annually waiting for transplants. The gap is stark while 200,000 kidney transplants are needed each year, only about 8,000 are performed; similarly, liver demand is around 50,000, but only 1,700–1,800 happen annually.

Despite these challenges, Karnataka stands out as a leader. Its nodal body, Jeevasarthakathe (SOTTO-Karnataka), has coordinated over 5,000 organ and tissue donations, including 1,652 kidneys, 912 livers, 274 hearts, and 117 lungs. In Mysuru district alone, the program saved 250 lives in a year through grassroots awareness and efficient coordination.

To strengthen infrastructure, Karnataka is setting up organ transplant and retrieval centers in 22 medical colleges, backed by targeted funding, and emphasizing the role of grief counsellors and brain-death committees.

While India’s transplant ecosystem shows signs of improvement, systemic issues including awareness gaps, infrastructural limitations, and societal hesitation continue to hold back its full potential.