Karnataka to set up a committee to promote organ transplants from deceased donors

Donated human liver transported for transplantation by Bengaluru Metro Rail. Health Minister UT Khader said that 6291 patients are waiting for organ transplant in Karnataka. | Photo credit: File Photo

To strengthen the organ transplant program in Karnataka and increase the number of deceased donor transplants, the health department will set up a Visionary Organ Transplantation Committee under the chairmanship of Nagesh Hegde, who heads the State Institute of Gastroenterology Sciences and Organ Transplantation (IGOT), Health Minister UT Khader said on Thursday.

Mr Khader said the decision was taken in a meeting with the Organ Transplant Advisory Committee, which he chaired.

The proposed committee will recommend measures to increase public awareness of organ donation and improve access to transplants, with a focus on strengthening infrastructure and streamlining procedures across the state, he said.

Certification of brain death

One of the key priorities would be to facilitate brain death certification and organ harvesting in all district hospitals and state medical colleges. The committee would also recommend measures to expand organ transplant facilities in government hospitals, Mr. Khader said.

“Most hospitals don’t want to get permission to harvest organs because of the long paperwork process. To avoid this, we propose that all hospitals with a capacity of 50-100 beds automatically become organ harvesting centers. If they don’t want it, they can ask to cancel it,” he said.

The early launch of a new software system for organ allocation and tracking would be another priority aimed at improving the efficiency of the process. According to him, the government will also focus on renewing the registrations of transplant centers whose approval has expired.

Waiting list

Mr Khader said 6,291 patients were waiting for organ transplant in Karnataka and stressed the need to encourage more people to pledge their organs. One deceased donor could help save several lives, he said.

The minister invited the public to submit their bodies through the Jeevasarthakathe portal at https://jeevasarthakathe.karnataka.gov.in.

He said the proposed measures are to strengthen the state’s organ donation network, expand transplant services in government hospitals and improve access to life-saving organs for patients on the waiting list.

Published – 22 Oct 2026 22:25 IST