Event Overview
Ramaiah Memorial Hospital (RMH) hosted an Organ Donation Awareness Drive in Bengaluru on 11 September 2026. The programme brought together healthcare professionals, donor families, transplant recipients, patients and the general public to promote "The Gift of Life". The event was graced by Shri U.T. Khader, Hon’ble Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Government of Karnataka, along with RMH senior leaders Dr. Madan S. Gaekwad (COO), Dr. M.R. Jayaram (Chairman, Gokula Education Foundation (Medical) & Chancellor – Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences), and Dr. Nagendra Swamy S.C. (Chief Executive, RMH).
National Organ Donation Context
The drive was organised in response to a widening gap between organ demand and availability in India. The country’s deceased organ donation rate remains below 1 donor per million population, compared with over 48 per million in Spain. India recorded 20,138 transplants in 2025, of which 82 % were from living donors. As of March 2026, more than 89,000 patients are on transplant waiting lists, a figure that far exceeds the supply of organs.
Hospital Credentials and Transplant Milestones
RMH is a 500‑bed, JCI‑, NABH‑ and NABL‑certified multi‑disciplinary super‑specialty quaternary care hospital established in 2004. It received the Joint Commission International (JCI) Gold Seal of Approval in June 2025, and in the same month was certified by the American Heart Association as a Comprehensive Chest Pain Center and by the American Stroke Association as a Comprehensive Stroke Center. The hospital’s Bone Marrow Unit and stem‑cell laboratory earned FACT accreditation, underscoring adherence to rigorous cellular‑therapy standards.
With over 22 years of service, RMH has treated more than 5 million patients and performed over 200,000 surgeries. Its transplant programme includes approximately 600 renal transplants, more than 50 heart transplants, over 210 bone‑marrow transplants, and the initiation of liver transplant services in 2025. RMH is affiliated with Mount Sinai International, New York since June 2024, a collaboration aimed at elevating clinical care, research and technology. The hospital was also recognized by Newsweek as one of the World’s Best Hospitals in 2025.
Statements from Leaders
Minister Khader emphasized that organ donation “transcends boundaries of relation and community” and reaffirmed Karnataka’s commitment to strengthening deceased‑donation infrastructure. Dr. M.R. Jayaram highlighted the collective responsibility to build public awareness and trust around deceased donation. Dr. Nagendra Swamy S.C. reiterated that with over 89,000 patients awaiting transplants, the gap between need and availability remains critical, and the drive aims to inspire more citizens to pledge organs.
Purpose and Expected Impact
The drive seeks to encourage individuals and families to pledge deceased‑organ donation, complementing the existing reliance on living donors, and to improve timely identification of potential donors through enhanced hospital‑level coordination. By raising awareness, RMH aims to help close India’s organ gap and give waiting‑list patients a genuine chance at life.