Organ transplant services in Jammu & Kashmir have seen steady progress in recent years. With the establishment of the State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (SOTTO) in 2019, the Union Territory has taken structured steps to improve transplant infrastructure and patient care. Today, multiple organ transplant hospitals in Jammu & Kashmir are working to provide life-saving procedures and improve the quality of life for patients with organ failure.
State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (SOTTO) in J&K
The creation of SOTTO J&K in 2019 marked an important turning point for organ donation and transplantation in the region. Before its formation, transplant facilities were limited and largely concentrated in one institution.
SOTTO’s main objectives include:
- Strengthening transplant infrastructure
- Promoting organ donation awareness
- Coordinating between hospitals
- Improving patient access to transplant services
Since its establishment, the number of organ transplant centres in Jammu & Kashmir has increased significantly.
Organ Transplant Hospital in Jammu & Kashmir
At present, around eight transplant centres operate across the Union Territory. These include both government medical colleges and private hospitals.
Government Institutions
- Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu
- Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar
- Command Hospital Northern Command, Udhampur
- Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura
Private Institutions
- Perfect Vision Super Speciality Eye Hospital, Srinagar
- Eye Care and Research Centre, Srinagar
- Swami Vivekananda Mission Hospital, Jammu
- ASG Hospital, Srinagar
These hospitals are gradually expanding transplant services, especially in kidney and cornea transplantation.
Kidney Transplant in Jammu & Kashmir
Before SOTTO was established, SKIMS Soura was the only centre performing kidney transplants in Jammu & Kashmir.
Current Kidney Transplant Centres
Now, kidney transplantation is available at:
- GMC Jammu
- GMC Srinagar
- SKIMS Soura
SKIMS has performed more than 700 successful kidney transplants, making it the most experienced centre in the region.
GMC Jammu has also made steady progress, completing over 31 live kidney transplants so far. However, sources indicate that GMC Srinagar is still working to reach full operational capacity.
Eye Bank and Cornea Transplant in J&K
Cornea transplantation services have also improved after 2019. Earlier, the region lacked functional facilities for cornea transplant.
Eye Bank Facilities
Among the eight transplant centres, only three currently have eye banks:
- GMC Jammu
- GMC Srinagar
- Command Hospital Udhampur
Since the establishment of SOTTO, more than 250 cornea transplants have been successfully performed across Jammu & Kashmir, helping many patients regain vision.
GMC Jammu alone has completed over 90 cornea transplants, showing encouraging progress.
Organ Retrieval Centres in Jammu & Kashmir
Organ retrieval from brain-dead donors remains limited in the region.
Currently, two authorised organ retrieval centres operate in J&K:
- 92 Base Hospital, Srinagar
- Command Hospital, Udhampur
Both centres function under the Army’s control. So far, the Udhampur centre has retrieved only a small number of donated eyes, and no major organ donations have been reported.
This highlights the need for stronger public participation in organ donation.
Challenges Facing Organ Transplant Services
Despite visible progress, organ transplant hospitals in Jammu & Kashmir still face several challenges:
- Limited organ donation rates
- Dependence on corneas from outside the UT
- Need for more fully functional transplant units
- Low awareness about brain-dead organ donation
- Infrastructure gaps in some centres
In most hospitals (except GMC Jammu), corneas used for transplantation are still sourced from eye banks outside Jammu & Kashmir through formal agreements.
Jammu & Kashmir has made measurable progress in building its transplant ecosystem since 2019. The expansion of kidney and cornea transplant services shows institutional commitment. However, sustained efforts in infrastructure development, training, and public awareness are still required.
If organ donation rates improve and existing centres reach full capacity, transplant hospitals in Jammu & Kashmir can significantly reduce patient dependence on facilities outside the region.
