ZTCC Pune Records First-Ever Organ Donation By A Foreign National
ZTCC Pune Records First-Ever Organ Donation By A Foreign National
Pune, November 10, 2025: In a landmark achievement, the Zonal Transplant Coordination Centre (ZTCC) Pune has recorded its first-ever organ donation by a foreign national holding an OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) card.
The donor, a 46-year-old woman from Lonavala, Maharashtra, who lived and worked in Melbourne, Australia, was visiting India with her family to celebrate Diwali when tragedy struck.
During her stay, she experienced a sudden and severe headache and was immediately admitted to Aditya Birla Hospital in Pune. Despite extensive medical intervention, doctors declared her brain dead. In a profound act of generosity, her husband and brother consented to donate her organs, giving new life to others.
As the donor was an Australian citizen, organ donation required special permission from the Australian Embassy. Despite it being a Sunday, the hospital administration, HR department, and the transplant coordination team — led by Dr. Urvi Shukla and Transplant Coordinator Vaishali Pawar — worked tirelessly to obtain the necessary approval. Their efforts were supported by the donor’s husband, DHS and ROTTO authorities, ZTCC Pune representatives Dr. Sheetal Mahajani and Dr. Vrishali Patil, and members of the Authorisation Committee.
Following embassy clearance, ZTCC Pune allocated the organs as per SOTTO guidelines. One kidney was sent to Dr. D. Y. Patil Hospital, Pune, the second kidney to Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital, Pune, the liver to Dr. D. Y. Patil Hospital, and the heart to H. N. Reliance Hospital, Mumbai. A special Green Corridor was arranged from Aditya Birla Hospital to H. N. Reliance Hospital, ensuring the heart’s timely transport. All four organ recipients are reported to be stable and recovering well.
ZTCC Pune expressed gratitude to all involved in making this international organ donation possible.
ZTCC Pune Organ Donation Statistics
(January 1 – November 10, 2025):
- Brain Stem Death Donors Converted: 66
- Total Transplanted Organs: 186
- Kidneys: 106
- Liver: 59
- Heart: 4
- Kidney + Pancreas: 1
- Heart + Lung: 1
- Lungs: 11
- Kidney + Heart: 1
