This achievement surpasses its own Guinness World Record from 2016, when the hospital gathered 13,206 pledges in a single day.
Published Aug 09, 2025 | 5:27 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 09, 2025 | 5:27 PM
Sri Ramakrishna Hospital sets new world record. (Supplied)
Synopsis: The record-breaking pledge drive was organised in collaboration with TRANSTAN and the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO). According to Dr Gopalakrishnan, the campaign, launched in December 2024, was taken “to every household” through street plays, pamphlet distribution, and public events, while also being amplified online through a coordinated social media push.
Sri Ramakrishna Hospital, a leading multi-speciality healthcare institution in Tamil Nadu, has achieved a new milestone in the global fight to save lives through organ donation.
The hospital received an astounding 45,861 digital organ donation pledges between February and April 2025, setting a world record certified by the World Records Union for the “Highest Number of Organ Donation Pledges in Three Months.”
This achievement surpasses its own Guinness World Record from 2016, when the hospital gathered 13,206 pledges in a single day. The new record was officially announced on 8 August at ITC Grand Chola, in the presence of distinguished guests and medical leaders.
The World Records Union citation was presented by representatives from the World Records Union Alice Raynaud and Records officer Shareefa Haneef to R Sundar, Managing Trustee of SNR Sons Charitable Trust and Sri Ramakrishna Hospital.
The event was attended by Health Minister MA Subramanian, Dr N Gopalakrishnan, and Member Secretary of the Transplant Authority of the Government of Tamil Nadu (TRANSTAN).
Addressing the gathering, Health Minister MA Subramanian highlighted Tamil Nadu’s leadership in organ transplantation and the importance of public participation. He remarked, “The Tamil Nadu government continues to lead in organ donation. In kidney transplants, the state ranked second in the country in 2024, with 1,796 procedures performed.”
World record. (Supplied)
He further urged, that if more people come forward to donate their organs, it will help save many lives and reduce the waiting list for transplants in Tamil Nadu. MA Subramanian further commended the hospital’s commitment to awareness building and expressed confidence that such initiatives would inspire similar efforts nationwide.
Dr N Gopalakrishnan of TRANSTAN emphasised the role of consistent awareness campaigns in bridging the gap between organ demand and availability. “Tamil Nadu and the Department of Public Health have taken the transplantation programme to the number one position in India,” Gopalakrishnan said.
“Last year, the state recorded the highest number of donations in the history of organ transplantation in a single calendar year from one state in India.” He added that while this was a milestone, the gap between those in need of transplants and available organs remained large, and closing it would require collective effort.
The record-breaking pledge drive was organised in collaboration with TRANSTAN and the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO). According to Gopalakrishnan, the campaign, launched in December 2024, was taken “to every household” through street plays, pamphlet distribution, and public events, while also being amplified online through a coordinated social media push.
A dedicated online link and scannable QR codes made it possible for people to register their pledges instantly, while physical forms were placed at hospitals, educational institutions, and public gatherings.
Gopalakrishnan noted that the outreach extended well beyond Tamil Nadu, drawing responses from across India and overseas, with Kerala ranking second in registrations.
A significant share of pledges came from individuals aged 18–30, a result he attributed to sustained campus engagement and youth-led social media campaigns.
The commitments included whole organ donations, kidneys, liver, heart, lungs, and pancreas, as well as tissues such as corneas and skin. Corneal donation saw the highest participation, supported by its established social acceptance and years of targeted awareness efforts.
R. Sundar, Managing Trustee, dedicated the milestone to the 45,861 individuals who came forward. “This recognition is a tribute to every individual who pledged,” he said. “It shows that when technology, grassroots mobilisation, and institutional commitment work in unison, the outcome can transform healthcare access.”
The event concluded with a joint pledge from government representatives, hospitals, and community groups to sustain awareness initiatives until the demand-supply gap in organ transplantation is closed.
(Edited by Sumavarsha)
