South Asian patients often face longer waits
South Asian patients are facing longer waits for organ transplants, with NHS figures revealing a gap between the number of people needing transplants and the number of donors from similar backgrounds.
NHS Blood and Transplant recorded a small number of deceased South Asian donors in the past year, while hundreds of South Asian patients remain on the transplant waiting list.
The NHS says organ matches are often more successful when donors and recipients have similar blood and tissue types, making more South Asian donors important.
As part of South Asian Heritage Month, the NHS is encouraging people to discuss organ donation with their families and confirm their decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register.
Across the UK, thousands of people are currently waiting for a life-changing organ transplant.
South Asian patients often face longer waits, particularly for kidney transplants, due to a shortage of suitable matches.
Health professionals say some people waiting for a transplant may never receive one, highlighting the importance of more people considering organ donation.
Harpreet Matharu from NHS Blood and Transplant urged people to make their donation wishes clear, so families understand their decision.
One family’s experience has shown the impact organ donation can have.
Bevi Sandhu, from Hounslow, agreed to donate her son Sunni Bansal’s organs after his sudden death earlier in 2026.
Sunni, who had autism and a learning disability, became an organ donor after his family decided it was something he would have wanted.
His donation helped save the lives of others, with his organs going to people in need and some donated for medical research.
Bevi said organ donation gave her comfort by allowing her son to continue helping others.
She explained that conversations about organ donation were not common within her Sikh community before Sunni’s death.
After his funeral, a letter confirming the impact of his donation was shared with family and friends, leading to more discussions about organ donation.
Bevi said the experience showed how one conversation can encourage others to think about becoming donors.
Heart transplant recipient Mehreen Ahmed also encouraged more South Asian families to discuss organ donation.
She said she had never heard much about organ donation before needing a transplant herself.
The NHS has also highlighted that conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure, which are more common in some South Asian communities, can increase the need for kidney transplants.
The organisation hopes more people will learn about organ donation, talk openly with their families and register their decision.
For many patients waiting for a transplant, more donors from South Asian communities could help save lives.
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