Key points

  • Transplants in India are regulated under the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act and its rules.
  • Living-donor transplants need approval from an authorisation committee, and the donor relationship must be documented.
  • Buying or selling organs is illegal. We do not take part in any arrangement of that kind.

This page is general information about the process. It is not legal or medical advice. The transplant team and the hospital’s transplant coordinator explain the current requirements for each case, and the official requirements can be found through the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation.

Organ and tissue transplantation in India is regulated by the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994, as amended, and the rules made under it. The law sets out who may donate, how donation must be documented and approved, and which hospitals may carry out transplants. Commercial dealing in organs is a criminal offence.

Living-donor transplants

For a transplant from a living donor, the hospital prepares a detailed file on the patient and the donor, and the transplant must be approved by an authorisation committee before it can proceed. The committee examines the relationship between donor and recipient and the donor’s free consent.

International patients

For foreign nationals, the rules on who may donate are stricter, and documents verifying the relationship between donor and recipient are usually required from the authorities of the patient’s home country, often through their embassy. Both the patient and the donor travel to India and are assessed by the transplant team. Ask the hospital early which documents your case will need, because gathering them can take time. See documents to bring for treatment in India.

Evaluation and the stay

Both recipient and donor undergo medical evaluation. After the transplant, the recipient usually stays near the hospital for close follow-up before travelling home, and needs lifelong follow-up with doctors at home. Plan accommodation and attendants for the whole period; see planning treatment in India step by step.

Questions to ask the transplant team

  • Is this hospital authorised to carry out this transplant?
  • Which documents and approvals will our case need, and how long do they usually take?
  • What evaluation will the recipient and donor need?
  • How long should we plan to stay after the transplant?
  • How will follow-up continue at home?

How we help

We coordinate records, communication with the transplant coordinator, document collection, travel, accommodation and follow-up. We do not source donors and we will not take part in any arrangement that breaches the law. See international patient services.