With 33 donors, January 2026 sets a record in deceased organ donations in Tamil Nadu

January 2026 marked a new monthly peak for deceased donor organ donations in Tamil Nadu, with 33 donors. More than half of them – 19 – were from government hospitals, the majority situated outside Chennai.

“This is the highest-ever number of donations in one month. This year, till today (February 12), 42 donations have taken place in 43 days – at a rate of one donation a day in Tamil Nadu. The 42^nd donation is under way at the Government Kilpauk Medical College (KMC) Hospital,” N. Gopalakrishnan, member secretary, Transplant Authority of Tamil Nadu (TRANSTAN), said.

Significantly, the maximum contributor to these 33 donations was a peripheral medical college hospital – Government Dharmapuri Medical College Hospital – which functions as a Non-Transplant Organ Retrieval Centre (NTORC). Data from TRANSTAN showed that Dharmapuri led the tally with five donors. “Inspite of being a NTORC, the donation rate at the Dharmapuri medical college hospital is appreciable. It has a core team and a well-oiled system in place. Such centres have to act as a template for the programme and need to be replicated in all government hospitals across the country,” he said.

Close behind Dharmapuri medical college hospital was Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai, with four donors. The Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Tiruchi and KMC, Chennai, contributed two donors each. Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, Chennai, along with five other institutions in Coimbatore, Salem, Dindigul, Tirunelveli, and Ramanathapuram accounted for a single donor each.

Last year saw a total of 266 brain dead organ donors. Noting that the State government prioritised the deceased donor organ transplantation programme, Dr. Gopalakrishnan said Government Order 331 issued in 2023 (mortal remains of brain dead donors will be honoured on behalf of the State government) was one of the factors that helped take forward awareness on organ donations. “The GO is implemented in letter and spirit. So far, 639 State government honours have been accorded,” he said.

“A pro-donation ecosystem has evolved, and a system has been put in place. Many deans of government medical college hospitals organise honour walks. Awareness has percolated, and it is important to sustain the ecosystem,” he added.