In a landmark achievement for healthcare in the region, Andhra Pradesh's Jeevandan organ donation programme has crossed the 300-transplant mark in a single calendar year for the first time ever in 2025. This sets an all-time record, shattering the previous annual high of 210 donations recorded just the year before in 2024.
From Pandemic Lows to Record Highs
The journey to this peak has been one of remarkable recovery and growth. The state managed only 56 transplantations in 2019, a number that plummeted to a mere six in 2020, the initial and most disruptive year of the Covid-19 pandemic. Since that low point, a concerted push involving enhanced public awareness campaigns and robust institutional support has propelled Andhra Pradesh to the forefront of deceased donor initiatives in India.
The record-breaking 2025 tally is attributed to several strategic interventions by the state government. Key among them is the rotation of transplant coordinators among various registered hospitals, ensuring expertise is shared widely. The implementation of Government Order No. 95 has also been pivotal, as it mandates state honours for deceased donors and provides financial assistance to their grieving families. This has been complemented by intensified awareness programmes reaching every corner of the state.
Building Trust Through Recognition and Support
Dr K Rambabu, the State Coordinator for Andhra Pradesh Jeevandan and Director of Visakha Institute of Medical Sciences, elaborated on their proactive approach. He explained that under GO No. 95, donor families receive not just financial support but also public honours from senior district officials like the Collector, Joint Collector, or Revenue Divisional Officer, who personally commend the donor's family.
"These families also get logistical assistance such as free ambulance services and official letters of appreciation," Dr Rambabu stated. "These measures are crucial in building trust and conferring dignity upon the act of donation, which helps families make a positive decision during their most difficult time."
He highlighted the recent introduction of rotating transplant coordinators as a game-changer. "These coordinators act as a vital bridge between grieving families and medical teams," he added. "Their empathetic counselling during emotionally charged moments helps facilitate consent and transforms a personal tragedy into a life-saving opportunity for others."
A Dual Strategy for the Future
Looking ahead, the programme aims to build on this success with a dual-pronged strategy. Dr Rambabu revealed plans for increased celebrity endorsements, aggressive social media engagement, and government-led awareness campaigns, particularly within public hospitals. "This approach combines ground-level incentives with top-down visibility," he said. "Our goal is to normalise organ donation, reduce any associated stigma, and cultivate a lasting culture of life-saving generosity across Andhra Pradesh."
State Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav congratulated the Jeevandan team on this historic milestone for public healthcare. In a social media post, the minister said, "This is a testament to strong institutional systems, medical excellence, and the profound life-saving impact of organ donation." He also provided broader context, noting that the milestone includes a total of 4,498 life-saving transplant operations since the programme's inception, combining both deceased and living donor procedures.
A detailed breakdown of transplants performed since 2015 under Jeevandan reveals:
- A total of 4,498 organ transplants.
- 1,293 organs from deceased (cadaver) donors and 3,205 from live donors.
- Kidney transplants are the most common, with 3,155 from live donors and 703 from cadavers.
- Heart transplants accounted for 91 procedures.
- 180 lung transplantations were conducted.
- Pancreas transplants were rare, with only 2 cases.
- Just 1 small bowel transplant was performed.
This record-breaking year underscores Andhra Pradesh's growing commitment to addressing the critical shortage of organs and saving countless lives through a structured, compassionate, and incentivised system.
