Gift of Life
Bengaluru
Karnataka set a new record in 2025 with 198 organ donors, placing the state third nationally, according to the State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (SOTTO). The milestone brings hope to the 5,500 patients still waiting for life-saving transplants across the state.
The tally surpasses Karnataka’s previous highs of 178 donations in 2023 and 162 in 2024. Tamil Nadu led the country with 267 donations, followed by Telangana with 205. Of the 198 donors in Karnataka, 150 were male and 48 were female.
Kidneys remain the most in-demand organ, with around 4,700 patients awaiting kidney transplants and 650 needing liver transplants. In 2025, the most retrieved organs in the state included kidneys (306), corneas (288), livers (167), and heart valves (76). Other organs and tissues retrieved were hearts, lungs, skin, bones, and small intestines.
Dr. Ravishankar Shetty K, state coordinator for SOTTO, said the rise in donations is due to increased awareness. “More people are willingly donating organs now. However, 80–85% of donations are still concentrated in Bengaluru and Mysuru. Our aim for the next year is to focus on districts, create awareness, and encourage donations through medical college hospitals and Non-Transplant Human Organ Retrieval Centres (NTHORCs),” he said.
SOTTO has collaborated with the police to appoint DSP-rank officers as nodal officers to identify accident-prone areas and coordinate with district hospitals on potential organ donors in head injury cases. The organisation also plans to work with the higher education department to raise awareness and encourage students to pledge organ donations.
The record highlights Karnataka’s progress in organ donation but also emphasizes the need to expand efforts beyond major cities. Experts say continued awareness campaigns and coordinated medical support are essential to saving more lives and ensuring equitable access to transplants across the state.
