Gujarat: 3 government hospitals win national awards for Excellence in Organ Donation
Gandhinagar, August 12
Three government hospitals in Gujarat have received prestigious national awards for their contribution to organ donation and transplantation during the 16th Indian Organ Donation Day ceremony held in New Delhi on August 3.
The awards were presented at the Dr B.R. Ambedkar International Centre on the occasion of Indian Organ Donation Day. Gujarat Minister of State for Health Praful Pansheriya congratulated the medical teams and said that the recognition reflected the state's efforts to strengthen organ donation and transplantation.
The Institute of Kidney Diseases and Research Centre (IKDRC), Ahmedabad, received the "Excellence in Leading Government Hospital in Organ Transplantation" award.
Ahmedabad Civil Hospital was honoured with the "Best Non-Transplant Organ Retrieval Centre (NTORC)" award for its work in retrieving organs from deceased donors.
The New Civil Hospital, Surat, received the "Best Brain Stem Death Team" award for timely identification of brain stem death, counselling of relatives and adherence to scientific procedures.
According to the Gujarat Health Department, IKDRC performed 597 organ transplants during 2025, including 502 kidney, 86 liver and nine pancreas transplants. Of these, 380 patients received free transplantation under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY).
The department said that 34 per cent of patients treated at IKDRC were from other states, highlighting the institution's role in providing organ transplantation services beyond Gujarat.
During 2025-26, Ahmedabad Civil Hospital retrieved 171 organs and 34 tissues from 48 deceased donors among 104 reported brain stem death cases, according to the department.
Meanwhile, the New Civil Hospital in Surat successfully certified 82 brain stem death cases during the year. The certification process plays an important role in facilitating organ donation from eligible deceased donors.
Pansheriya said that coordination between the Health Department, State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (SOTTO) Gujarat and government hospitals, along with the use of advanced technology and the efforts of medical professionals, had helped Gujarat emerge as a "role model" in organ donation.
The minister also expressed condolences and respect to families who chose to donate the organs of their loved ones despite their loss. He said their decision had helped give a new lease of life to several recipients.
Pansheriya appealed to citizens and doctors across Gujarat to create greater awareness about organ donation and ensure that viable organs from brain-dead patients are not wasted.
He said that donating organs after death is among the noblest forms of donation and urged people to contribute towards strengthening the organ donation movement in the state.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Good initiative but I wish there was more awareness in rural areas. My village still has many misconceptions about organ donation. Education at the grassroots level should be a priority alongside these awards. Still, congratulations to the hospitals - it's a start.
The families who donate organs of their loved ones are the real heroes. Can't imagine the strength it takes to make such a decision during such a difficult time. 🙏 My father received a kidney transplant last year, and I know firsthand how precious this gift is. Thank you to all the donors and to Gujarat's medical teams.
It's great that PM-JAY covered 380 free transplants! That's real access to healthcare for the poor. But we need more such centres outside Ahmedabad and Surat. Hopefully, the smaller cities in Gujarat and rest of India will also develop similar facilities.
Inspiring to see government hospitals stepping up in such a critical area. The systematic approach - from identifying brain stem death to counselling families - deserves recognition. India is making real progress in healthcare infrastructure.
The minister's appeal is important - we all need to talk about organ donation openly with our families. It's not a morbid topic, it's about giving life. Let's use festivals, community gatherings, and even social media to spread this message. 🙏
Congratulations to all three hospitals! The retrieval rate of 171 organs from 48 donors is impressive. It shows the protocols and family counselling are working well. Grateful to see government institutions leading by example in healthcare innovation.
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