PIB Hyderabad organises VARTA, a media workshop on World Organ Donation Day
HYDERABAD, AUGUST 13, 2026: The Press Information Bureau (PIB) Hyderabad organised VARTA, a media workshop on the theme Myths and Facts on Organ Donation, on the occasion of World Organ Donation Day at CGO Towers, Kavadiguda.
Dr. Sree Bhushan Raju, Professor and Head of the Department of Nephrology and Head of SOTTO (Jeevandan) at Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS), graced the event as the Chief Guest.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Manas Krishnakanth, IIS, Joint Director of PIB Hyderabad, said, “As there is a significant gap between the demand for organ transplants and the availability of donor organs in the country, NOTTO and SOTTO play an important role in coordinating and promoting organ donation and transplantation. Through the media workshops like Varta, we provide informative sessions on debunking myths or misconceptions surrounding organ donation and distinguish them from medical facts.”
Addressing the gathering, Chief Guest, Dr. Sree Bhushan Raju, Professor and Head of the Department of Nephrology at Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS), said, “On World Organ Donation Day, we must recognise organ donation as a noble act through which a deceased person can give another person a new lease of life. While medical science has made remarkable advances in transplantation, human organs cannot yet be fully replicated, making the generosity of donors and their families invaluable.”
Explaining the complexities involved in transplantation, he mentioned that the human immune system naturally recognises a transplanted organ as a foreign substance and attempts to reject it. To prevent this, advances in medicine have made it possible to control this immune response and enhance the outcomes of transplantation. However, maintaining a delicate balance between preventing rejection and protecting the recipient from infections remains an important challenge.
“The success of transplantation ultimately depends on the availability of organs. While medical science has developed sophisticated transplantation procedures and medicines, organs cannot simply be manufactured in a factory. Therefore, organ donation remains critical to giving patients awaiting transplantation a chance at a new life”, he added.
He further emphasised that the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOTA), along with NOTTO and SOTTO, provides an important framework for regulating and strengthening organ donation and transplantation in India, while the role of the Government of India was also highlighted, including its initiatives to promote organ donation through national programs, awareness campaigns, and the establishment of a transparent organ allocation system. These efforts aim to encourage organ donation, facilitate transplantation, and ultimately provide a renewed chance at life to patients suffering from organ failure.
Bhushan Raju has highlighted swap transplantation as a vital option for patients whose willing family donors are medically incompatible, explaining that compatible donor-recipient pairs can be matched under the appropriate legal and medical framework. He noted that while organ donation was earlier viewed primarily as a considered as a medical or scientific topic, it has increasingly become a social topic involving economic and family considerations, contributing to the demand and supply gap. To bridge the gap, he stressed the need to bring organ donation into public conversations and encourage discussions among families and communities to create greater awareness and acceptance. He also highlighted the vital role of media in debunking myths and misconceptions and spreading awareness of organ donation.
The session calls for greater public awareness and informed conversations on organ donation. Representatives from print and electronic media participated in the workshop and interacted with the expert on various aspects of organ donation.
Background:
The Government of India has taken various initiatives to strengthen the country’s organ donation and transplantation program.
On the 16th, Indian Organ Donation Day, the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) has launched the “Jug Jug Jiyo (Angdaan Karo, Jug Jug Jiyo)” movement to inspire voluntary family discussions and pledges. These efforts aim to create greater public awareness, encourage organ donation, and strengthen the transplantation ecosystem across the country. A 24×7 toll-free helpline at 1800-11-477 is also available to provide information and assistance related to organ donation.
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