Karnataka Health Minister U.T. Khader calls for greater public participation in “The Gift of Life”
Bengaluru, September 2, 2026: Ramaiah Memorial Hospital on Tuesday organised an Organ Donation Awareness Drive in Bengaluru, bringing together healthcare professionals, organ donors and their families, transplant recipients, patients and members of the public to promote organ donation and reinforce the message of “The Gift of Life.”
The programme was graced by Shri U.T. Khader, Hon’ble Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Government of Karnataka, who highlighted the need for greater awareness and stronger participation in deceased organ donation.
The initiative comes at a time when India continues to face a significant gap between the demand for organs and their availability. Despite a record 20,138 organ transplants being performed in 2025, a large majority were supported by living donors. More than 89,000 patients were awaiting organ transplants as of March 2026, highlighting the urgent need to strengthen deceased organ donation across the country.
India’s deceased organ donation rate continues to remain below one donor per million population, considerably lower than several countries with well-established organ donation systems. Hospital experts stressed that while living organ transplantation has emerged as a safe and highly successful treatment option for patients with kidney and liver failure, living donation alone cannot meet the growing demand for organs.
Increasing awareness, encouraging families to pledge organ donation, timely identification of potential brain-dead donors and strengthening hospital-level coordination are essential to addressing the shortage, experts said.
Speaking at the event, Shri U.T. Khader said, “Organ donation is a gift that transcends boundaries of relation and community. The Government of Karnataka remains committed to strengthening deceased donation infrastructure across the state, and initiatives like this by Ramaiah Memorial Hospital play a vital role in encouraging more citizens to come forward and pledge their organs.”
Dr. M. R. Jayaram, Chairman, Gokula Education Foundation (Medical) and Chancellor, Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences (RUAS), said organ donation represents one of the most meaningful expressions of human compassion.
He said, “Today’s gathering reflects our collective responsibility to build greater public awareness and trust around deceased organ donation. Every family that comes forward brings us closer to reducing India’s organ shortage and giving more patients a genuine chance at life.”
Dr. Nagendra Swamy S. C., Chief Executive, Ramaiah Memorial Hospital & Healthcare Services, GEF (Medical), said organ transplantation, through both living and deceased donation, has evolved into one of the most dependable treatment options for patients suffering from end-stage organ failure.
“With thousands of patients awaiting transplants, the demand for organs continues to far exceed their availability. Through this awareness drive, we hope to inspire more citizens to pledge organ donation and help bridge this critical gap,” he said.
The awareness programme also provided an opportunity for healthcare professionals, donor families and transplant recipients to share experiences and strengthen public understanding of the importance of organ donation.
Ramaiah Memorial Hospital said the initiative reflects its continued commitment to ethical transplant practices, donor awareness and high-quality transplant care. The hospital’s transplant programme covers multiple organ systems and is supported by a multidisciplinary team of specialists working towards advancing safe and effective transplant services in Karnataka.
The event concluded with a renewed call for citizens and families to consider organ donation, with the central message remaining clear: a single decision to donate can offer several patients a second chance at life.
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