Chandigarh: Reinforcing its position as the country’s foremost institution in deceased organ donation, ROTTO North, PGIMER Chandigarh scripted history by winning the prestigious National Award for Best Regional Organ & Tissue Transplant Organisation (ROTTO) for the third consecutive yea r, completing a remarkable Hat-trick and securing its fourth overall national title since the inception of the award in 2019.
The coveted honour was conferred during the 16th Indian Organ Donation Day celebrations held at the iconic Dr. B.R. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi, under the aegis of the National Organ & Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India.
The award was presented by Anupriya Patel, Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare , who congratulated the award-winning institutions for their outstanding contribution towards strengthening India’s organ donation movement and promoting ethical, transparent and equitable organ transplantation across the country.
The other esteemed dignitaries present on the occasion included Punya Salila Srivastava Secretary, MoHFW Government of India, Vijay Nehra, Addln. Secretary MoHFW Govt. of India, Dr. Loveneesh G. Krishna DGHS, MOHFW, Govt. of India and Dr. Anil Kumar, Director NOTTO.
The award was received on behalf of PGIMER by Prof. Vivek Lal, Director, PGIMER Chandigarh, along with a senior delegation comprising Prof. (Dr.) Ashok Kumar, Medical Superintendent, Prof Dheeraj Khurana, Dept of Neurology, Prof. Hemant Bhagat, Dept of Anaesthesia and Intensive care, Dr. Vijay Tadia Nodal Officer ROTTO North and Ms. Saryu D. Madra, Consultant (IEC/Media), ROTTO North, PGIMER.
Expressing his happiness over the recognition, Prof. Vivek Lal, Director, PGIMER, stated,” “Receiving this prestigious national recognition for the third consecutive year is a proud moment for the entire PGIMER family. It reflects our sustained commitment to advancing organ donation and transplantation through excellence in patient care, innovation, and teamwork. This honour belongs to our dedicated healthcare professionals who work tirelessly behind the scenes. Above all, it is a tribute to the donor families whose extraordinary courage and generosity continue to transform loss into hope and save countless lives.”
Prof. Lal further underpinned,” PGIMER designated as Regional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (ROTTO North), remains committed to strengthening the organ donation ecosystem across northern India through mentorship, capacity building, professional training, institutional collaboration, and the promotion of ethical best practices. Our mission extends beyond coordination—we strive to empower every State and transplant centre to build sustainable and efficient transplant programmes. This recognition reinforces our responsibility to continue leading with excellence, collaboration, and compassion for the benefit of patients awaiting the gift of life.”
The national event witnessed participation from senior officials of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Secretaries and senior officers from States and Union Territories, heads of leading healthcare institutions, transplant professionals, donor and recipient families, transplant coordinators, NGOs and civil society organizations working to advance organ donation across India.
The ceremony featured several deeply moving moments that underscored the true spirit of organ donation. Among those felicitated was the family of Major Singh, whose selfless decision to donate organs after his demise gave a new lease of life to multiple recipients. Equally poignant was the recognition accorded to the family of a young burn survivor who received life-changing skin donation, highlighting the transformative impact of tissue donation in restoring hope and healing to patients with severe burn injuries. These stories served as powerful reminders that every donation transcends grief to create new beginnings.
With this latest recognition, ROTTO North, PGIMER Chandigarh has now won the National Best ROTTO Award four times, including an unprecedented hat-trick of three successive victories for th years of 2023,2024 and 2025 and one earlier in 2019, firmly establishing itself as the national leader in organ donation coordination and promotion. The Institute has also previously received multiple national recognitions for excellence in deceased organ donation, reflecting its sustained commitment to advancing transplantation services and strengthening the organ donation ecosystem in the country.
Designated as the Regional Organ & Tissue Transplant Organisation (ROTTO North) in 2015, PGIMER has been entrusted with coordinating and promoting organ donation across Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and the Union Territories of Chandigarh, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. Through capacity building, policy support, public awareness, professional training and seamless inter-state coordination, ROTTO North continues to set national benchmarks in deceased organ donation while inspiring thousands to pledge the gift of life.
Other honours under the ROTTO North network included SOTTO Rajasthan, which received the national award for Best IEC and Awareness Activities, and DMC Ludhiana, Punjab for exemplary performance in transplantation, reflecting the growing momentum of organ donation initiatives across northern India under the guidance and coordination of ROTTO North, PGIMER Chandigarh
