By: IPP Bureau
Last updated : June 08, 2026 7:28 am
Donor families honoured as Apollo highlights over 27,500 transplants performed and calls for greater public participation in organ donation
Apollo Hospitals Hyderabad commemorated World Transplant Day with a special programme titled “A Key That Opens New Hope – Celebrating the Gift of Life”, bringing together donor families, transplant recipients, healthcare professionals and dignitaries to raise awareness about organ donation and transplantation.
The event was attended by Telangana Director General of Police C.V. Anand as the chief guest and Dr Sreebhushan Raju, Professor and Head of Nephrology at Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS), as the guest of honour.
Dr A. Narendra Kumar, Director of Medical Education, Telangana, and Prof. James Neuberger, Associate Medical Director, Organ Donation and Transplantation, NHS Blood and Transplant, also addressed the gathering.
The programme highlighted the importance of ethical organ donation practices and encouraged greater participation in both living and deceased donor transplantation. Donor families were felicitated for their selfless contributions, while transplant recipients shared personal stories of resilience and recovery, underscoring the life-saving impact of organ transplantation.
Apollo Hospitals used the occasion to showcase its achievements in transplant medicine. Since launching its transplant programme in 1984, the healthcare group has performed more than 27,500 solid organ transplants, including over 21,500 kidney transplants, 5,000 liver transplants and 400 heart-lung transplants.
Dr Sharath Putta, Head of the Department of Liver Transplant, said Apollo continues to advance transplant care through its network of 28 hospitals across 15 states, supported by specialized transplant intensive care units, ECMO-enabled critical care facilities and comprehensive post-transplant care programmes.
Leading transplant specialists from liver, heart, lung and kidney disciplines emphasized that advancements in transplant medicine have significantly improved patient survival rates and quality of life, making organ donation one of the most effective interventions in modern healthcare.
Tejasvi Rao Veerapalli, CEO, Apollo Hospitals Telugu States, described organ donation as one of the most meaningful gifts an individual can offer. He called for greater public awareness and participation to help address the gap between the demand for organs and their availability.
He also acknowledged the contribution of government-led initiatives such as Jeevandan and the Green Channel support provided by the police, noting that these efforts have strengthened the organ donation ecosystem and enabled faster organ transportation, ultimately helping save more lives.