Chandigarh:
SAMARTHAN 2026, a CME–cum–workshop organised by ROTTO North, PGIMER Chandigarh, brought together over 200 delegates from across the country along with international experts and concluded with a strong call for collaborative action to strengthen organ donation and transplantation programmes across Northern India and ensure that more patients awaiting life-saving transplants receive the precious gift of life.
A major highlight of the conclave was a special felicitation ceremony recognising 18 individuals and institutions for their outstanding contributions to promoting organ donation and supporting transplant programmes. The honourees represented a diverse spectrum of stakeholders—including clinical professionals, hospital support staff, social activists, government officials, youth ambassadors, and digital advocates—whose dedicated efforts have significantly strengthened the organ donation movement and helped advance the cause of life-saving organ donation and transplantation.
The Valedictory Session of SAMARTHAN 2026 was graced by Dr. Suman Singh, Director Health Services, Chandigarh Administration, as the Chief Guest, and Ms. Jyotinder Kaur Bajwa, IRS, Joint Commissioner of Income Tax, Chandigarh, as the Guest of Honour.
Commending the honourees for their remarkable contributions, Dr. Suman Singh said, “The individuals honoured today embody the true spirit of compassion and service that sustains the organ donation movement. Their dedication—ranging from hospital support staff and healthcare professionals to community advocates and digital influencers—demonstrates that saving lives through organ donation is truly a collective effort. Recognising such contributions not only honours their work but also inspires many more citizens to come forward and become part of this life-saving mission.”
Among the hospital support staff from PGIMER who were honoured were Heera Singh, Junior Lab Technician, Department of Immunopathology; Jaswinder Kaur, Nursing Officer, ATC ICU; Satnam Kaur, Senior Nursing Officer, Department of Renal Transplant Surgery; Sanjeev Kumar from the Security Department; and Jaspal and Manish, Hospital Attendants from ATC, PGIMER, whose dedicated services have played an important role in supporting transplant-related care and hospital coordination.
From civil society and community organisations, those recognised included Dr. Neelam, Social Activist from Raksha Foundation; Ashish Kumar, Superintendent, Punjab Civil Secretariat; Manmohan Ji from Vishav Manav Ruhani Kendra; Gurpreet Singh from Nischay Foundation; Prashant, Community Volunteer; and Damanjit Kaur, Director of Sukh Foundation, for their sustained advocacy and community engagement in promoting organ donation awareness.
Recognising the growing importance of youth participation and digital advocacy, Japita Rekhi, Student Ambassador, ROTTO North; Gurchet Singh, Organ Donation Awareness Coordinator, Chandigarh University; and Yogesh Garg, Social Media Influencer, were also felicitated for their proactive role in spreading awareness and encouraging wider public participation in organ donation initiatives.
Earlier in the day, SAMARTHAN 2026 hosted a series of technical sessions and expert deliberations aimed at strengthening the organ donation ecosystem across Northern India.
The workshop, themed “Strengthening Organ Donation through Collaboration, Best Practices and Shared Learning,” was held at Hotel Mountview, Chandigarh, and brought together healthcare administrators, transplant coordinators, policy experts, clinicians, NGOs, and community advocates actively engaged in the field of organ donation and transplantation.
The event was inaugurated by Prof. Vivek Lal, Director, PGIMER, who attended as the Chief Guest. Distinguished dignitaries present on the occasion included Anil Kumar, Director, National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO), and Dr. Amarjeet Kaur, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The conclave served as an important platform to address regional disparities in organ donation and deliberate on a coordinated roadmap for strengthening organ retrieval and transplantation systems across the northern states of India.
Participants highlighted that while India has made steady progress under the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Programme (NOTP), sustained collaboration among hospitals, administrators, civil society organisations, and law-enforcement agencies remains essential to bridge operational gaps and significantly enhance public awareness.
A key component of the programme was a series of technical sessions analysing the current organ donation scenario in Northern India and identifying barriers to improving donor conversion rates. Experts from leading transplant centres shared insights on organ donation trends, brain-death identification, donor family counselling, and the complex logistical coordination required during organ retrieval and transplantation.
International perspectives were shared by experts from Queen’s University Belfast, United Kingdom, while case studies and operational experiences were presented by leading institutions including Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow; All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur; and Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana.
The sessions also facilitated detailed discussions on strengthening transplant coordination systems, enhancing hospital infrastructure, expanding training programmes for transplant coordinators, and intensifying public awareness initiatives. Delegates further participated in collaborative group exercises to develop actionable Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) focusing on administrative strengthening, infrastructure development, legal and ethical compliance, and documentation mechanisms necessary for building sustainable organ donation programmes in Northern India.
In his concluding remarks, Prof. Vipin Koushal, Medical Superintendent and Head, Department of Hospital Administration, PGIMER, and Nodal Officer, ROTTO North, emphasised the importance of coordinated action to strengthen organ donation programmes across the region.
“SAMARTHAN 2026 represents a collective commitment to strengthening the organ donation ecosystem across Northern India. By bringing together healthcare professionals, administrators, law-enforcement agencies, civil society organisations, and community advocates, we aim to move beyond dialogue and translate these discussions into practical solutions that improve donor identification, streamline coordination, and ultimately save more lives through transplantation,” said Prof. Vipin Koushal.
He further emphasised that strengthening hospital networks, improving public awareness, and building efficient inter-state coordination mechanisms will be crucial to increasing organ donation rates and ensuring equitable access to transplantation services in the region.
The event witnessed participation of over 200 delegates from hospitals across Northern India, including representatives from several far-flung states, reaffirming the collective commitment of stakeholders to expand organ donation awareness, strengthen transplant coordination systems, and ensure that more patients awaiting transplants receive a new chance at life through organ donation.
