𝘚𝘳𝘪 𝘙𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘯𝘢 𝘏𝘰𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘚𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘙𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 45,861 𝘖𝘳𝘨𝘢𝘯 𝘋𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 3 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘴
Chennai, 8th August 2025 : Sri Ramakrishna Hospital, a leading healthcare institution in Tamil Nadu has set a new world record for receiving the highest number of organ donation pledges in a three-month period. It received a remarkable 45,861 pledges between February and April 2025, a record officially certified by the World Records Union.
The official citation was presented to the hospital management at a special ceremony held at the ITC Grand Chola on Friday, August 8, 2025. Representatives from the World Records Union, Ms. Alice Raynaud and Records Officer Ms. Shareefa Haneef, presented the citation to Shri. R. Sundar, Managing Trustee of SNR Sons Charitable Trust and Sri Ramakrishna Hospital.
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The event was graced by the presence of Tamil Nadu's Health Minister, Ma. Subramanian, and Mr. N. Gopalakrishnan, Member Secretary of the Transplant Authority of the Government of Tamil Nadu (TRANSTAN). Dr. S. Prahadeeswaran, Coordinator for this program shared that, this record-breaking campaign was launched in December 2024 and was a collaborative effort with TRANSTAN and the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO). The campaign was designed to be inclusive, allowing interested individuals from India and around the world to voluntarily pledge to donate their organs.
A comprehensive, multi-dimensional promotional strategy was implemented to effectively raise awareness. A dedicated team conducted numerous on-ground awareness programs, including street plays, pamphlet distribution, public speeches across the country. Simultaneously, a robust digital campaign was executed through social media to reach a wider audience.
To facilitate the pledging process, a unique online link and QR codes were developed. These were widely circulated through social media, posters, and banners at key campaign sites, enabling instant digital registration. For those preferring an offline method, physical registration forms were made available at hospitals, educational institutions, and public events.
The campaign received an overwhelming response from across India, with international contributions as well. Tamil Nadu led the pledges, reflecting the deep trust and awareness cultivated by Sri Ramakrishna Hospital in the region. Kerala followed closely, with strong participation from educational and social organizations.
The majority of donors expressed a willingness to pledge multiple organs, with a significant portion opting for complete organ and tissue donation. Pledges for whole organs such as kidneys, liver, heart, lungs, and pancreas were most common. Corneal donations were notably high, likely due to greater awareness and long-standing acceptance in India. Skin donations also featured prominently, especially after targeted awareness sessions on their role in burn treatment and reconstructive surgery.
The 18-30 age group constituted the largest share of pledges, a testament to the hospital's effective outreach through colleges, universities, and youth-focused social media campaigns. The World Records Union adjudicators meticulously verified the donor forms and their details, confirming the record after an extensive study.
Upon receiving the citation, Mr. R. Sundar, Managing Trustee of SNR Sons Charitable Trust, expressed his gratitude, stating, "This recognition is a tribute to the 45,861 volunteers who have pledged to donate organs. It highlights the importance of a tireless, combined approach of traditional and tech-driven awareness initiatives to effectively reach the masses." He further acknowledged the immense support from TRANSTAN and affirmed the hospital's commitment to continue raising awareness, acknowledging that the number of patients waiting for organs still far exceeds the number of available donors.
Dr. S. Alagappan, Medical Superintendent, expressed heartfelt gratitude to all dignitaries, partners, and participants for their valuable presence and support. He acknowledged their contribution as a driving force behind the event’s success and the hospital’s ongoing mission.
Others present at the event includes C.V.Ramkumar, CEO; D.Mahesh Kumar, Chief Administrative Officer, SNR Sons Charitable Trust and other guests and Dr.S.Alagappan, Medical Superintendent, Sri Ramakrishna Hospital. The Hospital had earlier achieved Guinness World Record in 2016 where the most people (13,206) to signed up as organ donors in a single day.
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