ROTTO North PGIMER has been honored with the National Award for Best ROTTO for its outstanding efforts in promoting cadaver organ donation. The award was presented during the 14th Indian Organ Donation Day, organized by NOTTO (National Organ & Tissue Transplant Organisation) at Dr. B.R.Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi. The Chief Guest, Smt.Anupriya Patel, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare & Chemicals and Fertilizers, presented the award. Dr. Vinod K. Paul, Member (Health) of NITI AAYOG, was the Guest of Honour. Other notable attendees included Sh.Apurva Chandra, Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Dr.Atul Goyal, Director General of Health Services, and Dr.Anil Kumar, Director of NOTTO.
Prof. Vivek Lal, Director of PGIMER, expressed pride in receiving the award, highlighting ROTTO North's role in enhancing organ donation awareness and boosting the deceased donation program. The award was received by Sh.Pankaj Rai, Deputy Director Administration of PGIMER, Dr. Vipin Koushal, Medical Superintendent and Nodal Officer of ROTTO North PGIMER, along with their team.
During the event, donor families were honored for their contributions. Mr. Sanjay Kumar and Mrs. Rajo Devi, parents of donor Harsh Panwar, and Mr. Manoj and Mrs. Raj Rani, parents of donor Sahil, were recognized for their life-saving decisions. Sh.Sukhdev Kumar, the longest-surviving kidney recipient from PGIMER, was also celebrated.
Prof. Vipin Koushal dedicated the award to the donor families and praised their generosity. ROTTO North PGIMER has previously won national awards in the Best Hospital category for deceased donation and continues to lead in promoting organ donation.
Additionally, SOTTO Jammu & Kashmir was awarded Best Emerging State in Organ Donation, with Dr. RPGMC Tanda and Command Hospital Panchkula recognized as Emerging NTORCs. Rajasthan was honored for Best Awareness/IEC Activities, and PGIMER received the newly instituted award for the 2022-2023 UT with the highest number of deceased donors.