New Delhi, April 14 -- With the world's lowest organ donation rate, the health ministry has warned hospitals to issue timely and transparent reports of deaths to their respective state authorities or face penalties, including licence cancellation.

The direction follows persistent non-compliance by hospitals which have failed to submit detailed reports to the government on the number of deceased donors, names and nationality of recipients, and in which city and hospital the organs are being transplanted.

The directive concerns brain stem death (BSD), the term used for natural deaths. Indians are notoriously diffident about organ donation - their own and families' - because of cultural reasons and a general lack of awareness.

It is thoug...