SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir currently has 180 patients officially wait-listed for organ transplants, primarily for kidneys, with no recorded liver, heart, lung, or pancreas transplants in the past five years, according to data from the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO).
The Union Territory has also performed only 147 corneal transplants between 2020 and 2025, highlighting the limited organ transplant infrastructure and access in the region.
In the last four years, at least four patients have passed away while waiting for an organ transplant. The government informed the Rajya Sabha that 180 kidney transplants were performed in Jammu and Kashmir over the last four years.
Nationally, organ transplantation in India has seen steady growth, with 72,993 major organ transplants—including kidney, liver, heart, lung, and pancreas—performed between 2020 and 2024. States like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, and Gujarat report the highest numbers of patients wait-listed and procedures conducted, reflecting the concentration of advanced transplant facilities in metropolitan areas.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched multiple initiatives to promote organ donation awareness, including public campaigns, school and community engagement programmes, a dedicated online portal for pledges, and a 24×7 toll-free helpline.
Over 4.5 lakh Aadhaar-verified pledges for organ donation have been registered since September 2023. The government is also allocating funds through Regional and State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisations (ROTTOs and SOTTOs) to expand transplant capacity and awareness activities across the country, aiming to bridge gaps between demand and availability.
