HYDERABAD: Even as 732 patients underwent organ transplants through 201 donations in 2025, nearly 4,800 patients continued to wait for life-saving organs in Telangana under the state-run Jeevandan cadaver transplant programme, according to official data.Kidney transplants accounted for the highest share at 287, followed by liver transplants (183), eye donations (140), and heart transplants (30). Officials said most donors were in the 41-50 age group, reflecting growing awareness and acceptance of organ donation among middle-aged families. Simultaneously, they added that the situation also highlights a widening gap between demand and availability.
However, experts cautioned that awareness alone was not sufficient. “The real challenge lies in identification and declaration of brain death, which remains grossly underreported,” a senior Jeevandan official said. He said many hospitals, particularly corporate ones, hesitated to declare brain death due to a lack of trained staff, legal apprehensions, or the absence of counselling teams.The issue was recently raised by a member of Parliament, who sought data on the number of brain-death declarations and potential donors. Over the past five years, 113 patients died while waiting for organ transplants, with heart and liver patients being particularly vulnerable due to narrow survival windows.Experts said mandatory organ retrieval centres should be established in all 100-bed hospitals, including govt medical colleges, as required under existing norms. “If these mechanisms function effectively, the waiting list can be significantly reduced within a couple of years,” the official said. He added that despite adequate medical infrastructure for organ transplantation, the real challenge was a lack of awareness and sensitivity towards organ donation among the public, despite sustained awareness programmes.Doctors also stressed the need for public participation and family consent at critical moments. “Many potential donors are lost because families are not counselled in time or remain unaware that one donor can save multiple lives. Awareness campaigns must move beyond generic messaging, and focus on sustained community-level engagement involving schools, colleges, religious institutions, and community leaders. NGOs also need to play a bigger role,” said Dr Bandari Rajkumar, president of the Healthcare Reforms Doctors Association. He emphasised that better training of ICU staff, transparent protocols, and public outreach were essential.Experts agreed that a coordinated approach, combining policy enforcement, hospital accountability, and public awareness, was crucial to bridging the gap. “Better coordination between hospitals, transplant coordinators, and the Jeevandan network can reduce delays and improve organ utilisation,” a physician said.
