Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Mansukh Mandaviya has said that the government has taken several steps towards increasing organ donations in the country. Addressing the 13th Indian Organ Donation Day (IODD) ceremony in New Delhi, he said in 2013, around 5000 people came forward to donate their organs and now there are over 15,000 organ donors annually.

Dr. Mandaviya said that it is important to recognize and appreciate the contribution of all the people who have been a part of this endeavour. He said that leave duration for organ donors have been increased from 30 days to 60 days and age limitations of 65 years have been removed. The Minister further stated that the government is committed to bring in more policies and reforms to popularise organ donation in the country. 

The 13th IODD ceremony was held to felicitate deceased donor families for their brave decision of donating organs of their loved ones, to spread awareness on deceased organ donation. It was also recognized to recognise the contribution of medical professionals working in the field of organ donation and transplantation by awarding them.

An e-Newsletter of the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO); a Transplant Manual and a National Curriculum for Transplant Coordinator Course were released on the occasion. During the event, ‘Make in India’ Products like Novel Hemophilia A Rapid Card Test and Von Willebrand Disease Rapid Card Test’ of ICMR and an eCARe portal of the International Health division of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare were also launched by the Union Health Minister.