India recorded 20,019 organ transplants in 2025, according to data shared by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in Parliament. The figures reflect a steady increase in transplant procedures across the country over the past decade.
Organ transplantation is a medical procedure in which a failing organ is replaced with a healthy organ from either a living donor or a deceased donor. These surgeries are usually performed for patients with advanced organ failure when other treatments are no longer effective.
In India, the most commonly transplanted organs include the kidney, liver, heart, lungs, and pancreas. For many patients with end-stage organ disease, transplantation remains the only life-saving treatment.
Despite the increase in transplant procedures, the government reported a significant gap in data reporting. A total of 217 out of 804 registered transplant hospitals did not upload their transplant data to the national registry portal in 2025.
The information was provided by the government in response to a question in the Rajya Sabha on March 10, 2026.
Hospitals that are authorized to perform transplant procedures are expected to submit details of each transplant performed. However, data from a large number of registered centers was not recorded in the national system during the year.
As reported in The Hindu, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Prataprao Jadhav stated in a written response to a question in the Rajya Sabha,
Against 804 registered hospitals performing organ transplantation, 217 hospitals failed to report data on the National Registry Portal during the year 2025. As per the provisions of the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act [THOTA], 1994 and the Rules framed thereunder, regulatory action against such hospitals is to be taken by the state governments concerned.Prataprao Jadhav, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare
India maintains a centralized transplant database through the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO). The national registry portal collects data from hospitals that conduct organ transplant surgeries across the country.
Hospitals are required to upload information such as:
Type of organ transplanted
Number of transplant procedures performed
Donor details
Waiting list data
Patient outcomes
This information helps health authorities track transplant activity and understand national trends in organ donation and transplantation.1
Organ transplantation in India is regulated under the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOTA), 1994 and its subsequent amendments.
Under this law, hospitals must receive authorization from the respective state or union territory authorities before performing transplant surgeries. These authorities also oversee compliance with reporting requirements.
If hospitals fail to submit data to the national registry portal, state governments have the authority to take action under the legal framework governing transplant programs.
Accurate reporting of transplant data plays an important role in the healthcare system.
A national registry allows authorities to monitor transplant activity across the country and identify patterns in organ donation and transplant procedures. This information helps policymakers plan strategies to improve transplant services and address shortages of donor organs.
Data from the registry also supports transparency in transplant programs and allows regulatory bodies to monitor compliance with national guidelines.
In addition, registry data can be used for research and public health planning, which may help improve transplant outcomes and access to treatment in the future.
Even though transplant numbers have increased, the demand for organs continues to exceed supply. Government data indicate that tens of thousands of patients remain on waiting lists for organ transplants in India.
Expanding organ donation programs, strengthening hospital reporting systems, and improving registry compliance are considered important steps in improving transplant services nationwide.
Ensuring that all registered transplant centers report their data regularly will help maintain an accurate national database and support better planning of organ transplantation programs in the country.
1. National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO). National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization: About Us. New Delhi: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. Accessed March 10, 2026. https://www.notto.mohfw.gov.in/WriteReadData/Portal/News/889_1_National_Organ_and_Tissue_Transplant_Organization__About_US_.pdf.
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