Organ Donation Can Give a New Lease of Life - Dr. Bhushan Raju

On the occasion of World Organ Donation Day, the Press Information Bureau (PIB), Hyderabad, organised a media workshop titled ‘Vaartha – Organ Donation: Myths and Facts’ at CGO Towers in Kavadiguda, Hyderabad, on August 13, 2026. Dr. Bhushan Raju, Professor and Head of the Department of Nephrology at Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences and Head of SOTTO (Jeevandan), attended the programme as the chief guest. PIB Hyderabad Joint Director Dr. Manas Krishnakant highlighted the significant gap between the demand for organs and their availability and stressed the need to dispel misconceptions through informed public communication.

Dr. Bhushan Raju described organ donation as a noble act through which a deceased person can give another individual a chance at life. He explained that although medical science has made major advances in transplantation, the shortage of donated organs remains a critical challenge. He also discussed the complexities of organ rejection, the importance of balancing immunosuppression with infection prevention and the role of swap transplantation when a donor is medically incompatible with the intended recipient. He called for greater public and family discussions on organ donation and emphasised the media’s role in spreading accurate information and removing myths. The workshop also highlighted government initiatives to strengthen the organ donation and transplantation system and promote transparent organ allocation.