Manipal Hospital Kolkata Observes Indian Organ Donation Day

Kolkata: To commemorate Indian Organ Donation Day—observed annually on August 3rd to mark India’s first successful deceased donor heart transplant—Manipal Hospital, EM Bypass organized a Patient Education Programme to spread awareness on the importance of organ donation and transplantation.

The session was led by Prof. Dr. Dilip Kumar Pahari, Senior Consultant & Head of Nephrology, Manipal Hospital EM Bypass, and Prof. Dr. Arpita Ray Chowdhury (Lahiri), Senior Consultant – Nephrology, President of the Indian Society of Organ Transplantation (ISOT), and Consultant, Manipal Hospital Mukundapur. They were joined by senior specialists from across five Manipal Hospitals in Kolkata—Dr. Rohit Rungta, Dr. Abhishek Kumar, Dr. Upal Sengupta, Dr. Abhinandan Banerjee, and Dr. Smarth Pulai.

Over 100 participants, including patients, caregivers, and members of the public, attended the programme. Families and dialysis patients were sensitized about how organ transplantation can transform survival rates, particularly in the case of kidney failure.

Earlier in April 2025, Manipal Organ Sharing & Transplant (MOST) inaugurated its Eastern Region chapter of Deceased Organ and Tissue Donation, marking a crucial step in bridging the gap between organ demand and supply in Eastern India. The initiative focuses on creating public trust, raising awareness within families, and strengthening inter-hospital coordination.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Pahari said, “Organ transplantation is not only a medical process, but also the donation of life. Thousands of organ failure patients can be saved annually if more individuals step forward to donate their organs.”

Highlighting lifestyle disorders, Dr. Ray Chowdhury (Lahiri) added, “Diabetes, hypertension, and obesity silently destroy vital organs. Most patients spend their last days on dialysis or ventilator support. Organ donation can give them a second lease of life and restore dignity.”

The hospital also introduced participants to the NOTTO–ROTTO–SOTTO framework, India’s tripartite system managing organ donation, registry, and allocation to ensure ethical and need-based distribution.

Manipal Hospital reaffirmed its commitment to pioneering organ transplantation in Kolkata through advanced facilities and expert care.

While Indian Organ Donation Day is marked on August 3rd, the global community observes World Organ Donation Day on August 13th, reinforcing the message that organ donation is a legacy of hope that can save countless lives.