53-year-old man gives a new lease of life to three people through organ donation in Mumbai

A 53-year-old man became the city’s 43rd deceased organ donor of 2025 after his family consented to donate his liver, kidneys and corneas at Fortis Hospital, Mulund, on October 13. The organs were retrieved and allocated as per state guidelines under the supervision of the Zonal Transplant Coordination Centre (ZTCC), Mumbai.

 

The donor’s liver and kidneys have given a new lease of life to three patients battling end-stage organ failure, while corneas will restore sight to two others.

 

“This act of generosity from one family has transformed multiple lives,” said Sangeetha Desai, Administrative Officer and Transplant Coordinator, ZTCC Mumbai. “It also adds to the growing awareness and willingness among citizens to donate organs.”

 

Milestone in Mumbai's organ donation ecosystem

According to ZTCC data, the city saw a 20 per cent rise in deceased organ donations in 2024, the highest since the pandemic. That year, Mumbai recorded 60 brain-stem-dead (BSD) donors, up from 50 in 2023, leading to the retrieval of 162 organs — including 93 kidneys, 51 livers, 8 hearts, 7 lungs, and 2 pancreas.

 

 

According to the Zonal Transplant Coordination Centre (ZTCC) Mumbai, the city recorded 41 deceased organ donors as of October 6, 2025, following 60 in 2024 and 50 in 2023 — reflecting a moderate dip this year after last year’s post-pandemic peak. In 2024, Mumbai saw 177 organ transplants (including 93 kidneys and 55 livers), up from 166 in 2023, before tapering to 129 transplants so far in 2025. 

 

While the decline may partly be attributed to the mid-year reporting window, the overall three-year trend points to a sustained strengthening of the city’s cadaver donation network compared to pre-Covid levels. Experts say the data underscores both the gains made through policy reform and hospital coordination, and the continuing need for awareness to maintain year-round donor identification.

 

 

Experts attribute the upswing to better hospital coordination, awareness drives, and policy support from the state government. As per experts from ZTCC, each donor can save up to eight lives through organ donation, and tissue donations can benefit several more.

 

To sustain the momentum, the Maharashtra government last year approved a plan to upgrade 25 state-run medical colleges with critical care units and trained transplant staff. Seven of these, including Mumbai’s JJ Hospital and KEM Hospital, are being developed as nodal transplant centres. KEM has already appointed three critical care specialists to help identify potential donors in intensive care units — a step that experts believe will significantly boost cadaver donations in public hospitals.

 

Despite progress, India’s overall organ donation rate remains at around 0.8 donors per million population, far behind countries such as Spain (46) or the US (36). Mumbai’s experience, however, suggests that targeted awareness campaigns and hospital preparedness can make a difference.

 

Families play the most crucial role, say doctors. Their decision to donate, often made during moments of profound grief, is what keeps this system alive.

 

For the recipients who benefited from the 53-year-old donor’s organs this week, that decision has meant a new chance at life. And for Mumbai, it is another reminder that every individual donor adds up — strengthening a city that’s fast emerging as a leader in organ donation and transplant coordination in India.

Health