Chandigarh:
Reinforcing its national leadership in the field of cadaver organ donation, PGIMER Chandigarh has once again emerged as a trailblazer by clinching the prestigious national award for Best ROTTO for the second consecutive year— marking its third national win since the inception of the award in 2019 . The accolade was presented at the 15th Indian Organ Donation Day celebrations held today at the iconic Dr. B.R. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi , under the aegis of the *National Organ & Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) .
The moment was made truly memorable by the presence of Hon’ble Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare and Minister of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda, who graced the occasion as the Chief Guest . A statesman known for his transformative health policy leadership, Shri Nadda lauded the remarkable strides made by the country in the last few years in promoting ethical organ donation, streamlined transplantation coordination, and impactful public awareness.
The award was received by an esteemed delegation from PGIMER, led by Prof. Vivek Lal, Director, PGIMER, accompanied by Sh. Pankaj Rai , Deputy Director (Administration), Prof. (Dr.) Vipin Koushal, Medical Superintendent and Nodal Officer, ROTTO PGIMER, and Ms. Saryu D. Madra, Consultant (IEC/Media).
The high-profile national celebration drew participation from across the country, including secretaries from various states, heads of major institutions, civil society organizations, NGOs, and transplant coordinators—making it a momentous gathering of India’s most committed voices in organ donation advocacy.
Also present were senior officers from the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, including Ms. Nivedita Gupta, Secretary, Dr. Sunita Gaur, Director General of Health Services (DGHS), and Sh. Vivek Nehra, Joint Secretary.
In a crowning achievement, PGIMER Chandigarh was also honoured with the award for the Best Brain Stem Death (BSD) Declaration Team, recognizing the institute’s unwavering adherence to transparent, timely, and ethically sound donor identification and management protocols. The award was received by a distinguished team led by *Prof. Vivek Lal, and comprising Prof. Vipin Koushal, Prof. Kajal Jain, Prof. Rajesh Chhabra Prof. Ashish Sharma, Dr. Rajeev Chauhan, Dr. Hemant Bhagat, and Dr. Shanky Singh.
Others present on the occasion representing ROTTO North included Milan K Balla, Consultant ( Data Management), and officials Manpreet and Ritika.
Expressing deep satisfaction and pride, Prof. Vivek Lal, Director, PGIMER, said, “This recognition is not just a reflection of our achievements, but also of our commitment to a cause that saves lives. It reaffirms the trust placed in PGIMER’s ROTTO North by donor families, transplant teams, and the government alike. Our mission is rooted in service, and awards like these inspire us to aim higher every year.”
Prof. Vipin Koushal, Superintendent cum Nodal Officer, ROTTO PGIMER, echoed this sentiment, stating, “This award is a collective victory—for our teams, for the donor families, and for the countless recipients whose lives have been transformed. It’s a powerful reminder that organ donation is not just a medical act, but a profound act of humanity.”
A particularly poignant and emotional moment was the felicitation of Mr. Krishna, a heart recipient, along with his parents Mr. Bhupinder and Ms. Madhu. Their presence served as a compelling human testimony to the life-changing potential of organ donation and brought into sharp focus the reason behind every effort made in this domain.
With this, ROTTO PGIMER Chandigarh has now won the Best ROTTO Award three times—in 2019, 2024, and 2025 —cementing its place at the forefront of the national transplant movement. In preceding years, PGIMER has also received four national awards for Best Hospital in Deceased Organ Donation (2015-16, 2016-17, 2018-19, 2019-20), and in 2022-23, was recognised as the Union Territory with the Highest Number of Deceased Donors.
Reflecting on the sustained excellence, Sh. Pankaj Rai, Deputy Director (Admn.), PGIMER, said, “This is a moment of immense pride for all of us at PGIMER. Our dedicated team continues to work round the clock to make every donation count. This award belongs to every member of our extended team, and most importantly, to the brave donor families. We would like this noble cause to be widely promoted and celebrated through our student volunteers under Project Sarathi.”
Since its designation as the Regional Organ & Tissue Transplant Organisation (ROTTO) in 2015, PGIMER has been entrusted with the critical responsibility of promoting the cause of organ donation across northern India—including the states of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and the Union Territories of Jammu, Kashmir, and Chandigarh. With strategic clarity, tireless commitment, and a mission-driven spirit, PGIMER’s ROTTO North continues to set national benchmarks in cadaver organ donation—championing hope, humanity, and healing.
Other commendations under the ROTTO North umbrella included SOTTO Punjab, which was recognised as the Best Emerging State in Organ Donation ; and SOTTO Rajasthan , which earned accolades for Best IEC and Awareness Activities.
