How Tamil Nadu invested in sustained awareness and building trust to shape its organ donation programme

Tamil Nadu has made significant progress in its organ donation program over the past 17 years. The journey began in 2008 with just seven deceased donor organ donations, but it has since grown to 266 donations in a single year. In 2024, the highest number of deceased organ donors was recorded in Tamil Nadu, with 268 donors. In 2025, there were 266 donors - 211 men and 55 women. A total of 1,476 organs were utilized, including 856 major organs and 620 minor organs and tissues.

The increase in donations is attributed to sustained awareness efforts, measures to build confidence, and trust, as well as improvements in the state's transplant infrastructure and systems. The Transplant Authority of Tamil Nadu (TNT) and the MOHAN Foundation, an NGO, played crucial roles in shaping public perception and overcoming initial reluctance among healthcare professionals.

Experts note that news about successful donations, honor walks for donors, and recognizing donors through state honors have been more effective in creating awareness. Tamil Nadu stands out with higher awareness levels compared to other states, with about 10 to 15% of families coming forward to donate. The acceptance rate for organ donations can increase by 10% after the second counseling session, according to a senior doctor.

However, there is still room for improvement. The high number of road traffic accidents contributes to a large number of brain deaths, which is a challenge for the program. Experts suggest exploring Donation after Circulatory Death (DCD), a practice already in use in developed countries, to increase the pool of donor hearts. Additionally, promoting swap transplants and establishing green corridors in hospitals to facilitate seamless integration of organ donation processes are recommended for further progress.