Gujarat hospitals win 3 national awards on Organ Donation Day 2026
Synopsis
Gujarat swept three national organ donation awards in a single ceremony — covering transplantation, organ retrieval, and brain stem death management. With IKDRC alone logging 597 transplants in 2025 and 34% of its patients travelling from outside the state, Gujarat's government hospital network is quietly emerging as India's most productive deceased-donor ecosystem.
Key Takeaways
Three Gujarat government hospitals won national awards at the 16th Indian Organ Donation Day ceremony in New Delhi on 4 August 2026 .
IKDRC, Ahmedabad won 'Excellence in Leading Government Hospital in Organ Transplantation' after performing 597 transplants in 2025 , including 502 kidney , 86 liver , and 9 pancreas transplants.
380 patients at IKDRC received free treatment under PM-JAY ; 34% of patients came from outside Gujarat.
Ahmedabad Civil Hospital retrieved 171 organs and 34 tissues from 48 deceased donors out of 104 brain stem death cases in 2025-26 .
New Civil Hospital, Surat certified 82 brain stem death cases in the same period, earning the 'Best Brain Stem Death Team' award.
Three government hospitals in Gujarat have been honoured with national awards for outstanding contributions to organ donation and transplantation at the 16th Indian Organ Donation Day ceremony held on 4 August 2026 at Dr B. R. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi. The awards, announced on Indian Organ Donation Day 2026, recognise achievements across organ transplantation, organ retrieval, and brain stem death management — spotlighting Gujarat's growing role in the country's deceased donor programme.
Which Hospitals Won and Why
The Institute of Kidney Diseases and Research Centre (IKDRC) in Ahmedabad received the 'Excellence in Leading Government Hospital in Organ Transplantation' award. Ahmedabad Civil Hospital was recognised as the 'Best Non-Transplant Organ Retrieval Centre (NTORC)' for its work in retrieving organs from deceased donors. New Civil Hospital in Surat earned the 'Best Brain Stem Death Team' award for its systematic identification of brain stem death cases, family counselling, and strict adherence to clinical protocols.
The Numbers Behind the Recognition
Gujarat Health Minister Praful Pansheriya shared detailed figures underlining the scale of the work. IKDRC performed 597 organ transplants in 2025, comprising 502 kidney transplants, 86 liver transplants, and 9 pancreas transplants. Of those, 380 patients received free treatment under the PM-JAY scheme. Notably, 34 per cent of patients treated at IKDRC came from outside Gujarat — a figure the minister cited as evidence of the institute's national standing.
Ahmedabad Civil Hospital retrieved 171 organs and 34 tissues from 48 deceased donors during 2025-26, out of 104 recorded brain stem death cases. Meanwhile, the Brain Stem Death Team at New Civil Hospital, Surat certified 82 brain stem death cases during the same period, contributing to faster and more effective organ procurement.
What the Government Said
Minister Pansheriya congratulated the medical teams and attributed the recognition to coordinated efforts among the Health Department, the State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (SOTTO) Gujarat, and government hospitals, backed by advanced medical technology and dedicated healthcare workers. He said the achievements reflected the state's continued push in organ donation under the guidance of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.
Paying tribute to donor families, Pansheriya said: 'Despite the pain of losing their loved ones, they made the noble decision to donate their organs. Their inspiring decision has given a new lease of life to many people.' He described organ donation as 'one of the greatest acts of humanity' that 'allows a person to give the gift of life even after death.'
The Broader Push for Awareness
The minister appealed to citizens, hospitals, and medical professionals across Gujarat to actively spread awareness about organ donation and ensure that no organ from a brain-dead individual goes to waste. This comes amid a national effort to close India's wide gap between the demand for transplantable organs and the supply from deceased donors — a shortfall that costs thousands of lives each year. With Gujarat's SOTTO framework now producing measurable results, the state is increasingly seen as a model for other states to emulate.
Point of View
Or whether it depends on concentrated infrastructure in Ahmedabad and Surat that most states lack. India's deceased-donor rate remains among the lowest in the world; Gujarat's numbers are encouraging, but the national gap is still vast.
NationPress
3 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Gujarat hospitals won national organ donation awards in 2026?
Three hospitals won: IKDRC in Ahmedabad for organ transplantation excellence, Ahmedabad Civil Hospital for best non-transplant organ retrieval, and New Civil Hospital in Surat for best brain stem death team. The awards were presented at the 16th Indian Organ Donation Day ceremony in New Delhi on 4 August 2026.
How many organ transplants did IKDRC Ahmedabad perform in 2025?
IKDRC performed 597 organ transplants in 2025 — comprising 502 kidney transplants, 86 liver transplants, and 9 pancreas transplants. Of these, 380 patients received free treatment under the PM-JAY scheme.
What is the significance of 34% out-of-state patients at IKDRC?
The figure indicates that 34 per cent of patients treated at IKDRC came from states other than Gujarat, reflecting the institute's national-level capacity and reputation in organ transplantation that draws patients beyond state borders.
How many organs did Ahmedabad Civil Hospital retrieve in 2025-26?
Ahmedabad Civil Hospital retrieved 171 organs and 34 tissues from 48 deceased donors during 2025-26, out of 104 recorded brain stem death cases — enabling life-saving transplants for numerous recipients.
What is SOTTO Gujarat and what role does it play in organ donation?
SOTTO stands for State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation, Gujarat. It coordinates the state's deceased organ donation programme, working with government hospitals and the Health Department to manage organ retrieval, allocation, and transplantation across the state.
