UK-based Indian nurse who championed organ donation wins global award

An Indian nurse based in the UK, Agimol Pradeep, has been awarded a global prize of $250,000 for her tireless advocacy in promoting organ and stem-cell donation. The Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award 2026 was bestowed upon Pradeep during a ceremony in Kochi, India, after she emerged from over 134,000 registrations from 214 countries and economies.

In an interview with Gulf News, Pradeep expressed awe at the recognition, emphasizing that it symbolizes her dedication to her profession rather than individual achievement. Her work has centered around the issue of patients dying from organ failure while waiting for treatment. Pradeep hopes her international recognition will enable her to promote her cause in countries where organ transplant systems are not yet fully developed.

Pradeep has highlighted the disparities between developed healthcare systems, like the UK, with their dedicated transplant services, and developing countries with limited support. She has also focused on addressing barriers faced by South Asian communities, where a shortage of ethnically matched donors can affect transplant outcomes.

Pradeep's initiative, Upahaar, has registered over 10,000 stem-cell donors. She has taken every challenge as an opportunity, viewing it as a chance to make a difference. Pradeep views continuous learning as crucial in nursing, given the evolving nature of healthcare and technology. With her British Empire Medal-winning career, Pradeep believes nursing is a true calling, offering nurses diverse paths to shape healthcare.

Her global vision for the award prize includes supporting organ donation initiatives and nursing education in developing countries.