World Organ Donation Day 2026: Mumbai Faces Severe Shortage As Nearly 5,000 Patients Await Transplants; Only Around 10% Receive Donor Support

Mumbai grapples with a grave shortage of transplant organs, as nearly 5,000 patients in the city await transplants, and only around 10 percent of those on the waiting list receive donor support. Dr. S.K. Mathur, President of the Zonal Transplant Coordination Centre (ZTCC), expressed concern over the low pledges from families who have benefited from organ transplants, with only 10 percent pledging their organs for donation.

Dr. Mathur emphasized the importance of transplant recipients and their families becoming advocates for deceased organ donation to encourage others to donate.

The city currently has patients awaiting transplants for kidneys (4,000), livers (900), hearts (60), lungs (25), and pancreas (15). In total, 40 deceased donors contributed to 115 cadaveric organ transplants in Mumbai on August 12, 2026, including liver, kidney, heart, lung, pancreas, and small-bowel transplants. The city's 40th deceased donor of the year donated his heart, liver, and kidneys on the same day, with corneas and tissues also being donated.

As of August 12, 2026, Maharashtra had 118,913 people who had formally pledged their organs, with Mumbai recording 2,998 pledges, Mumbai Suburban 2,719, and Thane 6,843. To increase the number of organ donations, greater participation by transplant beneficiaries is crucial in creating a stronger culture of organ donation. World Organ Donation Day, on August 13, aims to raise awareness and encourage people to discuss their organ-donation wishes with their families.