Kerala has reported a surge in organ donation pledges following two successful heart transplants at Lisie Hospital earlier this month. The development has revived public trust in the state’s organ donation programme and raised hopes for patients awaiting life-saving procedures.

Record pledges in a week

In the week following the surgeries, 650 new registrations were recorded, taking the total pledges in the state to 7,866. On September 12 and 13 alone, 193 and 180 pledges were added—the highest ever for consecutive days.

According to data from the National Organ & Tissue Transplant Organisation, Thiruvananthapuram leads with 1,942 registrations, followed by Ernakulam (867), Kollam (763), and Kozhikode (667). The majority of new pledges came from individuals in the 30–45 age group.

Successful surgeries boost trust

The two transplants, conducted on September 11 and 13 under the leadership of noted cardiac surgeon Dr. Jose Chacko Periyappuram, have been hailed as turning points for Kerala’s organ donation drive.

On September 11, the heart of a brain-dead patient in Thiruvananthapuram was airlifted to Kochi and transplanted into a 28-year-old from Angamaly. Two days later, the heart of another donor was given to a 13-year-old patient.

Minister thanks donor families

Health Minister Veena George expressed gratitude to the families of the donors, noting that the state has around 2,500 patients waiting for organs, especially kidneys and hearts.

“I thank the relatives who, in their moment of grief, chose to donate organs. With the court easing the process of reporting brain death, we are seeing more donations. While it is tragic that young lives are lost, the families’ decision to donate is truly commendable,” she said.

She also urged more people to register pledges under the state’s Mrithasanjeevani programme.

Misconceptions being overcome

Dr. Noble Gracious, Executive Director of the Kerala State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (KSOTTO), said the state is recovering from years of mistrust caused by misconceptions around brain-death procedures.

“For 4–5 years, donations were low because of public doubts. But these recent transplants have triggered a sharp rise, especially among those aged 30–45. We are now receiving 100–120 pledges daily,” he said.

He also stressed that Kerala’s programme is fully government-regulated. “Allocation is strictly based on the waiting list. There is no question of intermediaries or any so-called ‘organ mafia’,” he added.

Kerala compared to other states

Despite the surge, Kerala’s numbers remain modest compared to larger states. Maharashtra leads with 1,04,925 pledges, followed by Rajasthan (90,652), Karnataka (47,554), Gujarat (40,372), and Madhya Pradesh (23,994).

Among southern states, Telangana has 15,821 pledges, Uttar Pradesh 13,514, Tamil Nadu 13,362, Andhra Pradesh 9,533, Odisha 8,176, and Punjab 7,120. With 7,866 pledges, Kerala still lags behind but has shown encouraging momentum in recent days.

Conclusion

The success of the recent heart transplants has renewed public confidence in Kerala’s organ donation system. The growing number of pledges signals a turning point for the state, where more people are now stepping forward to give others a chance at life.