Guide · 8 min read
Kidney Transplant in India: A Step-by-Step Guide
How kidney transplant works in India, the living and deceased donor pathways, and the legal rules families should know.
A kidney transplant places a healthy kidney from a living or deceased donor into a person with kidney failure. In India the process is governed by the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOTA) and coordinated through NOTTO.
Two donor pathways
- ✓Living donor — a relative or, in some cases, an approved non-relative
- ✓Deceased donor — a kidney from a brain-dead donor, allocated through NOTTO
The journey, step by step
- Recipient evaluation (blood group, HLA, heart and general health)
- Donor evaluation and legal authorisation
- Surgery, with the new kidney placed in the lower abdomen
- Post-transplant care and lifelong anti-rejection medicine
Legal and ethical essentials
Buying or selling an organ is a criminal offence in India. Living donation must be voluntary and unpaid; only actual expense reimbursement is allowed.
Never pay for an organ
Genuine transplant teams never ask for money "for the kidney." Any such request is illegal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the success rate of kidney transplant?
Living-donor transplants have excellent outcomes, with many kidneys working for decades. Outcomes depend on matching and overall health.
Who can be a living donor?
Near relatives (spouse, parents, siblings, children, grandparents) can donate after evaluation. Non-relatives need State Authorisation Committee approval.
Sources
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This page is for general education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified doctor about your specific condition.