AP to develop 12 govt hospitals into organ transplant hubs
In a major initiative to make organ transplant treatment affordable and accessible, the Andhra Pradesh government has announced plans to develop all 12 government teaching hospitals into comprehensive organ transplant centres over the next few years.
Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav unveiled the initiative while addressing the State-level National Organ Donation Day programme organised by Jeevandan at the Andhra University Convention Centre here on Sunday. He said the phased expansion would reduce dependence on private hospitals and enable economically weaker patients to access advanced transplant care through the public healthcare system.
The minister said 5,935 patients in the state are currently awaiting organ transplants, highlighting the urgent need to strengthen government healthcare infrastructure.
As part of the first phase, kidney transplant services will be expanded at government teaching hospitals in Visakhapatnam, Palasa, Kurnool, Vijayawada, Guntur, Tirupati and Kakinada. Organ retrieval centres will also be established in all 12 teaching hospitals to improve the availability of donor organs across the state.
The government is also examining the feasibility of introducing liver transplant services by 2028 and heart transplant facilities in Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada and Kurnool by 2030, paving the way for a comprehensive public-sector transplant network.
Mr. Satya Kumar said the number of organ transplant centres in Andhra Pradesh had increased from three to nine since the coalition government assumed office. The government’s long-term goal, he said, is to establish comprehensive transplant services in all 12 government teaching hospitals.
Appealing for greater public participation in organ donation, the minister urged families to discuss their decision in advance and communicate their wishes to relatives, noting that organs from a single deceased donor can save up to eight lives.
To encourage organ donation, the government has proposed increasing financial assistance towards the funeral expenses of organ donors from ₹10,000 to ₹1 lakh. The proposal has been submitted to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for approval. The government is also considering requests for contractual employment or pension support for eligible donor families.
Olympic medallist P.V. Sindhu, who attended the programme, described organ donation as one of the greatest gifts of life. Praising families who consent to organ donation despite their personal loss, she urged people, particularly the youth, to register on the Jeevandan portal and pledge to donate their organs, noting that thousands of patients are waiting for a life-saving transplant.