Multi-Organ Donation at Command Hospital, Chandimandir Saves Multiple Lives; First-Ever Heart Retrieval at Facility
In a remarkable act of altruism and courage, the family of a 41-year-old woman, wife of a serving Indian Army Colonel, consented to donate her organs after she was declared brain stem dead on May 2, 2026, at Command Hospital, Chandimandir, Panchkula, Haryana. The noble gesture facilitated life-saving transplants for four critically ill patients, including a 14-year-old boy, exemplifying the spirit of compassion and national solidarity.
The donor had suffered a severe brain haemorrhage and was declared brain stem dead by a duly constituted medical board as per established protocols. In the midst of profound personal grief, her husband and two young daughters took the extraordinary decision to donate her heart, kidneys, liver, and pancreas, thereby enabling multiple life-saving transplant procedures.
The successful organ retrieval and transplantation were enabled through seamless inter-agency coordination involving Command Hospital, Chandimandir; the Indian Air Force; National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO); traffic police authorities of Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi; and the Airports Authority of India. Swift clearances and meticulous logistical arrangements ensured timely transportation of organs to tertiary care institutions, including Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Army Hospital (Research and Referral), and Indraprastha Apollo Hospital.
Notably, this case marks the first-ever heart retrieval undertaken at Command Hospital, Chandimandir, signifying a major milestone in strengthening institutional capabilities for organ donation and transplantation.
This exemplary case underscores the critical importance of coordinated efforts across multiple stakeholders in advancing organ donation and transplantation in the country. It also reinforces the urgent need to enhance public awareness and encourage citizens to pledge for organ donation.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare reiterates its commitment to further strengthening the national framework for organ donation and transplantation and urges citizens to come forward in support of this life-saving cause.
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HFW- Organ Donation from Command Hospital /6th May 2026/3