The National Organ Transplant Programme in India is crucial for patients with end-stage organ failure. The programme’s budget has seen steady increases over recent years. In the fiscal year 2022-2023, the allocated budget of the programme’s financial journey was 9.11 crores.

Moving into 2023-2024, the revised budget saw a notable increase to 11.00 crores.
The most striking testament to the programme’s trajectory came in 2024-2025, where the allocated budget soared to 15.00 crores (1^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Department of Health and Family Welfare

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).

‘Did you know? India’s National Organ Transplant Programme saw a 64.3% budget increase from 2022-2023 to 2024-2025, empowering healthcare for all. #healthcare #healthsectorbudget2024 #medindia’
      

Current Status and Achievements

In 2023, India performed 12,526 kidney transplants, with 10,896 from living donors and 1,630 from deceased donors. There were also 4,173 liver transplants, including 3,338 from living donors and 828 from deceased donors. Deceased donor organs were used in 15% of kidney transplants and 20% of liver transplants. The country saw 1,037 deceased donors in 2023, up from 941 in 2022. According to the Global Observatory’s 2022 data, India conducts 25% of the world’s living donor kidney transplants but only 3% of deceased donor kidney transplants (2^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Indian Transplant Newsletter. Vol.23 Issue No.1, January 2024 – March 2024

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).

Access to Transplantation for Economically Disadvantaged Populations

To address the issue of equitable access, it is crucial for the government to enhance organ transplant services in public sector hospitals, particularly in government-run medical colleges. These institutions have the potential to conduct kidney transplants but often lack the necessary expertise and manpower. To address these gaps, a robust public-private partnership should be developed. This approach will help provide transplant services to marginalized and disenfranchised populations, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their economic status, can benefit from these life-saving procedures.

Implications of Budget Expansion of Organ Transplants

The transplant programme’s budget increase, notably the rise to Rs. 15.00 crores for 2024-2025, reflects positive progress in financial support. This increase signifies a commitment to expanding services and improving infrastructure to address the growing demand for organ transplants.

The budget growth highlights a deeper recognition of the importance of organ transplantation. It enables healthcare providers to enhance services, improve outreach, and address healthcare disparities. Importantly, the increased funding should also focus on making organ transplantation more accessible, especially for economically disadvantaged populations.

In conclusion, the budget growth of the National Organ Transplant Programme, from Rs. 9.11 crores in 2022-2023 to Rs. 15.00 crores in 2024-2025, reflects a positive trend in supporting organ transplantation services. This increase not only aids in improving healthcare outcomes but we hope is a step towards a commitment to making organ transplants accessible and equitable for all.

Reference:

1. Department of Health and Family Welfare – (https://www.indiabudget.gov.in/doc/eb/sbe46.pdf)
2. Indian Transplant Newsletter. Vol.23 Issue No.1, January 2024 – March 2024 – (https://www.itnnews.co.in/indian-transplant-newsletter/issue71/Deceased-Organ-Donations-in-2023-India-Reaches-a-New-Milestone-1287.htm)

Source-Medindia