I live in India. so here's how organ transplantation works in India:

  • India has a national Organ and Tissue Transplant programme run by NOTTO(National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation).  https://notto.abdm.gov.in/Opens in a new tab  
  • This programme operates at three levels. National(NOTTO), Regional(ROTTO) and State(SOTTO) levels. 
  • Jeevandaan (Telangana state's SOTTO programme) is the most successful programme. Telangana recorded highest number of cadeveric organ donations when compared with the national average and other states.  https://jeevandan.gov.in/Opens in a new tab  
  • The protocol of how the Telangana's jeevandaan operates can be referred in the attached link.  https://dme.telangana.gov.in/open_record_view.php?ID=115Opens in a new tab  
  • The legal legislation that dictates the legalities of transplantation is the THOA 1994 (Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act). The act was amended several times to put a clear transparent protocol in place to prevent organ trafficking and other illegal activities.  https://www.indiacode.nic.in/handle/123456789/1962Opens in a new tab  
  • India recognises brain death and cadeveric organ and tissue donation of both brain dead and cardiac death donors. - In Indian transplantation landscape, living donors make up about 84% while deceased donors make up only 16% (according to the data of the year 2023). The reasons stated (without substantial evidence) are lack of public awareness about the deceased organ donation and families presume they have to pay for organ donation operation. Steps are being taken to tackle these challenges with awareness programmes at district level.  https://notto.abdm.gov.in/dashboardOpens in a new tab  
  • Green corridors development started in the year 2013 to ensure traffic free routes between hospitals for logistics of organ transport from harvesting centers to organ transpant centers.
Register as an organ donor here https://notto.abdm.gov.in/register