Andhra Pradesh Assembly passes organ donation Bill; Rs 1 lakh aid proposed for donor families

Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Assembly on Wednesday passed the Human Organ Transplantation Amendment Bill-2026, which, among others proposes stringent penalties for illegal organ removal and trade.

Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav said a proposal has been sent to Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to increase the financial assistance for families of brain-dead organ donors from Rs 10,000 to Rs 1 lakh.

Addressing the Assembly, the minister said the Bill provides for wider recognition of close relatives for organ donation, allows "swap donation" in certain cases and proposes stringent penalties for illegal organ removal and trade.


Under the new provisions in the Bill, grandparents, maternal uncles and aunts will also be recognised as close relatives for organ donation, in addition to spouses, parents, children and siblings, Yadav said.

Special personnel will be appointed at recognised hospitals to coordinate the organ donation process, register donor-recipient details and monitor transplantation, he said.

"The Human Organ Transplantation Amendment Bill-2026 has been passed by the Andhra Pradesh Assembly, and a proposal has been sent to Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to increase the financial assistance for families of brain-dead organ donors from Rs 10,000 to Rs 1 lakh," said Yadav.

The Bill, introduced by Yadav, was passed after a discussion in the House, with Deputy Speaker K Raghu Rama Krishna Raju giving his assent.

Yadav said the Bill provides for stringent punishment for illegal organ removal and trade.

Illegal removal of an organ is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and carries a fine of Rs 20 lakh, while illegal organ trade would attract five to 10 years' imprisonment and a fine ranging from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 1 crore.

Yadav said around 5,920 people in the state are waiting for organ transplants, including around 100 for heart transplants, 3,000 for kidney transplants and 2,000 for liver transplants.

He said the waiting list includes people ranging from one-month-old infants to those aged 90, with around 40 children below the age of 10 also awaiting organs.

The minister added the government was conducting several awareness programmes to remove misconceptions about organ donation and by involving prominent personalities in the campaign.

He also appealed to MLAs to speak about the importance of organ donation and help create greater awareness among the public.

Yadav said families who come forward to donate organs of brain-dead persons are currently provided Rs 10,000 and the donor's last rites are performed with state honours. The government is also considering providing employment on an outsourcing or contract basis to eligible members of donor families based on their financial background and other factors, he said.

The number of organ transplantation centres in Andhra Pradesh has increased from three to nine, while the government plans to develop 12 teaching hospitals as organ transplant centres in the coming days, said the Minister.

Yadav said private hospitals account for a larger share of kidney and liver transplants, but the government is taking steps to expand transplant services in the public sector, he said.

According to the minister, 41 donors came forward in 2023 and 126 organ transplants were performed, while 66 donors and 210 transplants were recorded in 2024. In 2025, 93 donors came forward and 300 organ transplants were performed.

This year, 74 donors have already come forward and more than 200 organ transplants have been performed, he said. The government aims to have more than 100 donors and conduct more than 400 organ transplants by the end of the year.

The minister said that organ retrieval after cardiac related death will be permitted in specific medical conditions, while strict restrictions have been imposed on the retrieval of organs and tissues from minors.

He said special permission would be mandatory for organ donations involving foreigners and strict penal provisions had been proposed to curb illegal organ removal, purchase, sale and brokering.