With 33 donors, January 2026 sets a record in deceased organ donations in T.N.

January 2026 marked a new monthly high in deceased donor organ donations in Tamil Nadu with 33 donors. More than half (19) of these were from government hospitals, with the majority located outside Chennai.

“This is the highest number of donations ever made in a month. So far this year (February 12), 42 donations have been made in 43 days in Tamil Nadu, which works out to one donation per day. 42^And N. Gopalakrishnan, member secretary, Transplant Authority of Tamil Nadu (TRANSTAN), said donation is ongoing at Government Kilpauk Medical College (KMC) Hospital.

Significantly, the largest contributor to these 33 donations was the peripheral medical college hospital – Government Dharmapuri Medical College Hospital – which functions as the Non-Transplant Organ Retrieval Center (NTORC). Data from TRANSTAN showed that Dharmapuri led the rankings with five donors. “Despite being NTORC, the donation rate at Dharmapuri medical college hospital is remarkable. It has a core team and a well-oiled system. Such centers should serve as a template for the program and should be replicated in all government hospitals across the country,” he said.

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

Last year, a total of 266 brain dead organ donors were seen. Noting that the state government gives priority to the organ transplant program from deceased donors, Dr. Gopalakrishnan said that Government Order No. 331 issued in 2023 (the bodies of brain-dead donors will be honored on behalf of the State government) was one of the factors that helped raise awareness about organ donations. “GO has been implemented in letter and spirit. So far, 639 State governments have been awarded,” he said.

“A pro-donation ecosystem has developed and a system has been put in place. Many deans of government medical college hospitals are organizing pride marches. Awareness has increased and it is important to maintain the ecosystem,” he added.