Surat’s New Civil Hospital has been honoured with the national award for 'Best Non-Transplant Organ Retrieval Centre' in recognition of its exceptional contribution in the field of organ donation. The award was presented by Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda at a national ceremony held at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi on August 2, on the eve of the 15th National Organ Donation Day.
As per report, the event was organized by the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO), which works under the Government of India to promote organ donation awareness and coordination. The award acknowledges the hospital's commendable record of facilitating 72 organ donations, through which over 250 patients have been given a new lease of life.
Representing the hospital at the award ceremony were Medical Superintendent Dr. Dharitri Parmar, RMO Dr. Ketan Nayak, Gujarat Nursing Council Vice President Iqbal Kadiwala, and neurosurgeon Dr. Mehul Modi. The Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel also met the hospital’s team at Garvi Gujarat Bhavan in Delhi and congratulated them on this significant achievement.
Dr. Dharitri Parmar expressed her gratitude and dedicated the award to all organ donors and their families. She highlighted that under the guidance of Dilipdada Deshmukh, Chairman of the Organ Donation Charitable Trust, the hospital staff has consistently worked as a united team in this noble endeavour. She emphasized the moral significance of organ donation, especially in cases of brain death, where one donor can save multiple lives.
The hospital has so far facilitated the donation of 126 kidneys, 57 livers, 26 corneas, 12 lungs, 9 hands, 6 hearts, 6 small intestines, 2 pancreases, and 1 radial forearm flap (RAFF).
Dr. Ketan Nayak, who plays a key role in coordinating organ donation procedures, described the experience as deeply emotional and service-oriented. He noted the delicate process of counselling families and coordinating the donation from start to finish.
Iqbal Kadiwala highlighted the complexity involved in declaring brain death and securing family consent during such difficult times, calling it the most challenging aspect of the entire process. He noted that organ donation brings light into the lives of thousands awaiting transplants.
National Organ Donation Day is observed annually on August 3 to spread awareness about organ donation and to honour the altruistic contributions of donors and their families. The day was first observed in 2010, and since then, NOTTO has continued to lead efforts toward greater awareness and infrastructure for organ donation in India. Surat’s New Civil Hospital has emerged as an inspiring example in this humanitarian mission.
