World Organ Donation Day-2025: 13 August

Why in News ?

• World Organ Donation Day is celebrated every year on 13 August. Its purpose is to make people aware about the importance of organ donation, remove the misconceptions related to it and motivate people to donate organs. This day is also celebrated to honor those donors who saved the lives of others by donating their organs during their lifetime or after death.

Meaning of Organ Donation

• Organ donation is the process in which a person voluntarily provides his organs or tissues to a needy person for transplantation.
• It can be done by a living person or after death.
• Vital organs like heart, liver, kidney, lung, pancreas, intestine and tissues like cornea, skin, bone marrow can be donated by organ donation.

Importance

• According to WHO, every year millions of people die prematurely due to organ failure, while organ donation can save their lives.
• One person's organ donation can save the lives of 8 people and tissue donation can change the lives of many more people.
• Organ donation promotes humanity, empathy and service in the society.

Which organs can be donated and when ?

• Can be donated after natural death; Eyes (cornea), heart valves, bone, skin etc.
• Can be donated only in case of brain death; Heart, liver, kidney, lungs, pancreas etc.

Organ donation process (in India)

• National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) is the central body for organ donation and transplantation in India.
• Interested person can register by filling the organ donation card or online.
• Permission of relatives is required after death, so it is important to inform the family in advance.

Barriers to organ donation

• Religious and cultural misconceptions
• Lack of hospitals and transplant centers
• Lack of awareness in society

Situation in India

• According to NOTTO, about 5 lakh people die every year in India due to organ failure, but the rate of organ donation is still very low; about 0.86 per million population.
• The government and NGOs are running several awareness campaigns, such as "Green Corridor" (traffic free route to quickly transport organs to transplant hospital).

Legal initiatives

• Organ donation and transplantation in India is regulated under the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOTA), 1994.
• This law prevents illegal organ trade and recognizes only legal, voluntary donations.

National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization:

• This organization comes under the Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• Its National Network Division acts as the apex centre for all India activities for procurement, distribution and registration of organ and tissue donation and transplantation in the country.