2767 awaiting organ donation: Kerala ranks 12th

KOZHIKODE: While Kerala continues to advance toward becoming a leader in the healthcare sector, it still lags behind in posthumous organ donation. Compared to other states, Kerala ranks 12th. Maharashtra leads with 51,506 people registered to donate their organs, while only 5,891 individuals have registered in Kerala. Over the past 13 years, only 387 people have donated organs after death in the state, with 1,108 organ transplant surgeries carried out.

So far this year, organs from nine brain-dead individuals have resulted in 24 transplant surgeries. In previous years as well, the numbers have been minimal. Currently, 2,767 people are on the waiting list registered with Kerala State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (K-SOTTO). Legal complications around the declaration of brain death and the decreasing frequency of such declarations by hospitals are cited as major reasons for the decline in organ donation rates.

However, there has been a noticeable rise in transplants from living donors.

Kidneys in high demand
The majority of those waiting are in need of kidneys—2,128 patients. So far this year, 14 kidneys have been donated. In comparison, there were 19 kidney donations in 2024, 32 in 2023, and 28 in 2022.

Willing organ donors (by State)
Maharashtra – 51,506

Rajasthan – 43,595

Karnataka – 37,032

Gujarat – 36,870

Madhya Pradesh – 23,275

Telangana – 14,820

Uttar Pradesh – 11,856

Tamil Nadu – 10,300

Andhra Pradesh – 8,398

Odisha – 7,185

West Bengal – 6,007

Kerala – 5,894

Year-wise organ donations in Kerala
Year Donors Organs donated
2012.....9 ..............22
2013.....36.............89
2014.....58............155
2015.....76............215
2016.....72............199
2017.....18.............60
2018......8...............28
2019.....19.............54
2020.....21 ............68
2021.....17.............48
2022.....14.............52
2023.....19 ............62
2024.....11.............32
2025......9..............24

People waiting for organs
Kidney – 2,128

Liver – 492

Multiple organs – 30

Heart – 82

Pancreas – 5

Lung – 1

Small intestine – 3

Hand – 6

Cornea – 20

Total – 2,767

One of the primary reasons for the low donation rate is that doctors in hospitals are reluctant or hesitant to certify brain death. Additionally, many do not explain the importance of organ donation to the deceased's relatives. Death is only declared once brain activity has completely ceased, which is when the organs need to be retrieved.

“We must act during this window to make organ donation possible,”
– Dr. Noble Gracious,
Executive Director, K-SOTTO