Tamil Nadu Leads India in Deceased Organ Donation: Transtan's Success Story

Tamil Nadu continues to lead the country in deceased organ donation, with the programme overseen by Transplant Authority of Tamil Nadu (Transtan). The state has recorded 57 deceased organ donations in the first two months of this year — nearly one a day. Transtan member-secretary N Gopalakrishnan speaks to TOI about the factors behind the surge and the sustainability of the model.  TN has recorded 57 deceased organ donors in the first two months of 2026.There has been an unprecedented surge this year. As early as 2008, when much of the country was still unfamiliar with the concept, Tamil Nadu had already begun building a structured deceased organ donation system.

Though there was a lull during the Covid years, the programme was subsequently strengthened by bringing together policymakers, the bureaucracy, technocrats, the media and civil society. The model has now achieved sustainability and is grounded in scientific temper and ethical values. What factors have contributed to this growth?Several initiatives have played a role. The introduction of ‘honour walks’ and Govt Order 331, which mandates state honours for deceased organ donors, have been significant.

About 652 honour walks have been accorded since 2023, helping to reshape public perception. Coordination among departments and police to facilitate ‘green corridors’ for swift organ transport, has been crucial. Medical students are being engaged to serve as ambassadors for organ donation.

The launch of Vidiyal, a mobile-cum-web application in 2021, has streamlined the process, ensuring transparency in organ allocation.

 Is TN the only state following such a model?Not the only one, but certainly among the few. Some have adopted similar practices, though with modifications such as offering monetary benefits. We have consciously avoided that approach to ensure organ donation, a noble act, is not trivialised. How important is public trust in this process?Transparency is critical. No family is coerced into agreeing to organ donation. Consent is obtained only through counselling. Do families usually agree to donate?The acceptance rate after the first round of counselling is 75%, and rises to around 80% after a second round. Over the past two years, donations at govt hospitals have equalled or even surpassed those at private institutions. This year, the Govt Dharmapuri Medical College Hospital, a non-transplant organ retrieval centre, recorded the highest number of donations. Does the higher number of deceased organ donations relate to the State’s accident rate?While it is unfortunate that Tamil Nadu records a high number of accidents, organ donations are not limited to trauma-related brain deaths. There are also non-trauma deceased donors.