Every year, World Organ Donation Day is marked on August 13 to raise awareness about the life-saving power of organ donation and to honour donors and their families for their selfless contributions.
In 2025, the day falls on a Wednesday with the theme “Answering The Call”, set by the Organ Donation and Transplant Alliance. The theme acknowledges the work of healthcare professionals in the field while urging greater public participation and cooperation in organ donation.
According to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), more than 103,993 people are currently waiting for organ transplants worldwide, but the number of available donors is far lower—creating a serious supply-demand gap.
Here’s everything you need to know, including insights from AIIMS’ Organ Retrieval Banking Organisation (ORBO) on how the process works.
Why is World Organ Donation Day observed?
The day is intended to build public understanding and support for organ donation, highlight the shortage of available organs, and encourage people to pledge as donors. It also pays tribute to donors and their families for enabling life-saving transplants.
What is the history of organ donation?
The world’s first successful organ transplant was in 1954, when Ronald Lee Herrick donated his kidney to his twin brother. Dr Joseph Murray, who performed the surgery, later won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1990 for his pioneering work in transplantation.
In India, National Organ Day was initially observed on November 27, starting in 2010, as an initiative of the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO). Since 2023, it has been marked on August 3 to commemorate India’s first successful deceased-donor heart transplant in 1994.
How can someone pledge to donate organs in India?
AIIMS’ ORBO states that there are two ways to donate organs:
By pledging while alive – You can fill out an organ donor form in the presence of two witnesses, one of whom must be a near relative.
By family consent after death – Even without prior registration, a person’s organs can be donated if family members sign a consent form at the time.
Where can I get the organ donor form?
The form is available:
It is free of cost. After submission, ORBO issues an organ donor card with a registration number. AIIMS recommends keeping the card with you at all times and informing family members about your decision.
What happens when someone dies and is eligible to donate organs?
If the deceased had not registered, family members can still authorise donation by signing a consent form. Once consent is given, organs are retrieved within hours. The transplant coordination team handles the entire process, returning the body to the family with dignity.
Will organ donation disfigure the body or delay the funeral?
No. AIIMS clarifies that organ retrieval does not cause disfigurement. The body is reconstructed respectfully and can be viewed as in any normal case of death. Funeral arrangements are not delayed.
Why is pledging important if families can decide after death?
Pledging ensures your wishes are recorded and gives clarity to your family, reducing the burden of decision-making during a time of grief. It also helps the organ donation process move faster, improving transplant outcomes.
In 2025, the day falls on a Wednesday with the theme “Answering The Call”, set by the Organ Donation and Transplant Alliance. The theme acknowledges the work of healthcare professionals in the field while urging greater public participation and cooperation in organ donation.
According to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), more than 103,993 people are currently waiting for organ transplants worldwide, but the number of available donors is far lower—creating a serious supply-demand gap.
Here’s everything you need to know, including insights from AIIMS’ Organ Retrieval Banking Organisation (ORBO) on how the process works.
Why is World Organ Donation Day observed?
The day is intended to build public understanding and support for organ donation, highlight the shortage of available organs, and encourage people to pledge as donors. It also pays tribute to donors and their families for enabling life-saving transplants.
What is the history of organ donation?
The world’s first successful organ transplant was in 1954, when Ronald Lee Herrick donated his kidney to his twin brother. Dr Joseph Murray, who performed the surgery, later won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1990 for his pioneering work in transplantation.
In India, National Organ Day was initially observed on November 27, starting in 2010, as an initiative of the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO). Since 2023, it has been marked on August 3 to commemorate India’s first successful deceased-donor heart transplant in 1994.
How can someone pledge to donate organs in India?
AIIMS’ ORBO states that there are two ways to donate organs:
By pledging while alive – You can fill out an organ donor form in the presence of two witnesses, one of whom must be a near relative.
By family consent after death – Even without prior registration, a person’s organs can be donated if family members sign a consent form at the time.
Where can I get the organ donor form?
The form is available:
- Directly from ORBO in person or via mail
- Through download at www.orbo.org
It is free of cost. After submission, ORBO issues an organ donor card with a registration number. AIIMS recommends keeping the card with you at all times and informing family members about your decision.
What happens when someone dies and is eligible to donate organs?
If the deceased had not registered, family members can still authorise donation by signing a consent form. Once consent is given, organs are retrieved within hours. The transplant coordination team handles the entire process, returning the body to the family with dignity.
Will organ donation disfigure the body or delay the funeral?
No. AIIMS clarifies that organ retrieval does not cause disfigurement. The body is reconstructed respectfully and can be viewed as in any normal case of death. Funeral arrangements are not delayed.
Why is pledging important if families can decide after death?
Pledging ensures your wishes are recorded and gives clarity to your family, reducing the burden of decision-making during a time of grief. It also helps the organ donation process move faster, improving transplant outcomes.
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