Indian Organ Donation Day 3 August 2023 - Importance & Theme

Indian Organ Donation Day is observed every year from the 3rd of August, commemorating India's first successful deceased-donor heart transplant on August 3rd, 1994. On this day, people from various organisations around India honour the lives of those who have donated their organs and spark the light of hope both in patients requiring organs and as well as in their families.

In addition, this day has raised awareness about organ donation and its impact on improving patient quality of life. Earlier (until 2022), this day was observed on November 27th to praise the contributions given to society by deceased donors and their families.

Importance of Indian Organ Donation Day (IODD)

According to the Global Observatory on Donation and Transplantation, India's organ donation rate has increased from 0.05 per ten lakh populations to 0.8 per ten lakh populations in a duration of few years. However, India's organ donation rates present a stark contrast picture when compared with that of Croatia's 36.5, Spain's 35.3, and the United States 26 per ten lakh populations, respectively.

As of March 2020, more than 1,12,000 Indians were waiting for a transplant, and a new name was added to the national transplant waiting list every 10 minutes. As per a 2020 research report in India, everyday 20 patients who in dire need of an organ transplant tragically pass away due to the organ unavailability. The report added the waiting list for 2020 for a transplant (1,12,568) is almost three times the number of transplants (39,718) that happened with 19,267 donors in 2019. 

India ranks top in the number of road accident deaths across the 199 countries as per World Road Statistics, and it contributes 11% (>1.5 lakh deaths) of global accident-related mortality as per World Health Organisation Global Report on Road Safety 2018. In 2021, a similar count (1,53,972) was reported by the Indian Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, where 67% of them are between 18-45 years old.

Despite the humongous mortality numbers that occur through road accidents, India stands behind in the number of organ donations (552 deceased brain death) as per the 2021 global report . The factors responsible for low organ donation in India might be due to the existence of spiritual beliefs in life after birth, low awareness about organ donation, and myths about illegal organ trading.

This portrays the necessity of awareness among the Indian citizens that aid in increasing the availability of potent donors and gradually reducing the number in need (waiting list). Therefore, Indian Organ Donation Day plays a pivotal role in raising public awareness about donating an organ, either living or after death (caused by a brain or cardiac death) and paying tribute to those who have sacrificed for the benefit of others.

Indian Organ Donation Day 2023 Resolution

This year 2023, the Indian Organ Donation Day resolution is “Donate Organs, Save Lives”, a national call to enhance awareness about deceased brain stem death and organ donation, debunk common myths and misconceptions about organ donation and motivate the citizens to donate organs and tissues after death, as well as to internalise the values of organ donation in their life.

Each potent donor can save up to eight lives who are in need of organs such as the liver, kidneys, intestine, lungs, heart, and pancreas. In addition, it vastly improves the quality of life for countless more by donating bone, skin, heart valves, cornea etc. The Indian Organ Donation Day strives to clear the lacunae between the number of persons in need of organ transplants and the number of donors, thus creating a platform to encourage more people to be front-line soldiers for a noble cause.

History of Indian Organ Donation Day

The national organ day is celebrated on the 27th of November until 2022, which was started in 2010 under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare by the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO). In 2023, the day is shifted to August 3rd, commemorating the success of first deceased heart transplant in India on August 3rd, 1994. 

Know more about health awareness days