Kerala to Open First Organ and Tissue Transplant Institute in India

Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

The Government of Kerala has announced plans to establish an Institute of Organ and Tissue Transplant in Kozhikode. This new institute will focus on research, training, and patient care in organ transplantation. It aims to become a Centre of Excellence with skilled doctors, researchers, and health workers.

Why is This Important?

Many patients need organ transplants, but there are not enough organs available, and the costs are very high. Most transplants happen in private hospitals, making them unaffordable for many people. This new institute will offer low-cost transplants and train more doctors and specialists.

Funding and Facilities

The total cost to set up the institute is Rs 558.68 crores, funded by the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB). The institute will be built on a 25-acre campus and will include a 489-bed hospital, 16 operation rooms, a dialysis center, and a research center. In Phase I, 330 beds and 10 operation rooms will be set up, and in Phase II, 180 beds and 6 operation rooms will be added.

Transplant Goals

In five years, the institute aims to perform 1,100 corneal transplants, 500 kidney transplants, 320 liver transplants, and many more. It will also offer 31 academic courses, including some that are the first of their kind in India.

Research and Training

The institute will have a dedicated research facility for studying transplant biology, medicine, cell therapy, and more. It will offer super specialty courses, post-doctoral fellowships, and training for transplant technicians and coordinators.

Impact

This institute will be the first dedicated transplant center in India, making Kerala a leader in organ transplantation. It will lower the cost of transplants, help poor patients, and promote medical tourism.