Who can be a donor?
Indian law allows organ donation only without payment. For foreign patients, the donor must be a close relative, such as a spouse, parent, child, brother, sister or grandparent. The relationship must be proven with documents, usually including a certificate from your country's embassy in India. An authorisation committee at the hospital or state reviews every case before surgery.
MadrasMediGate does not arrange paid or unrelated donors. Buying or selling organs is illegal in India.
Documents and reports to send
- Kidney function tests (creatinine, eGFR) and dialysis details
- Ultrasound of the kidneys
- Blood group of the patient and the possible donor
- Medical history and current medicines
- Passport copies of patient and donor, and documents proving your relationship
The transplant process step by step
- Online review: our doctor and the transplant team review your reports and confirm whether transplant is suitable.
- Evaluation in Chennai: blood group, tissue typing (HLA), crossmatch and full health tests for both patient and donor.
- Legal approval: documents are checked and the authorisation committee interviews patient and donor.
- Surgery: the donor kidney is removed, usually by keyhole surgery, and placed in the patient.
- Recovery and follow-up: close monitoring for rejection and infection, with regular blood tests.
How long you will stay in India
Evaluation and legal approval usually take 2 to 4 weeks before surgery. After surgery, the recipient stays in hospital about 7 to 10 days and then near the hospital for regular checks. Plan for about 6 to 8 weeks in India in total for the recipient. Donors usually recover faster and can often return home 2 to 3 weeks after surgery.
Life after a kidney transplant
After the transplant you take anti-rejection medicines every day for life and have regular blood tests. With good care, many transplanted kidneys work well for 10 to 15 years or longer. We help you arrange follow-up with your local nephrologist.
Frequently asked questions
Can a friend donate a kidney to me?
For foreign nationals, Indian law generally requires the donor to be a close relative. We will tell you what is possible in your situation after reviewing your documents.
Does the donor and patient need the same blood group?
Usually a compatible blood group is needed. Some centres can perform ABO-incompatible transplants with special treatment before surgery. The transplant team will advise you.
Is it safe for the donor?
Kidney donation is generally safe for a healthy donor. The donor has detailed tests first, and most donors live normal lives with one kidney.
This page gives general information to help you plan. It is not a diagnosis or a substitute for advice from a doctor who has examined you. Your treating specialist in Chennai will confirm the right treatment for you.