REGION’S FIRST heart transplantfacility in Government hospital soon

 

GOVERNMENT Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) has got permission to conduct heart transplant which will start soon. According to its Dean Dr Raj Gajbhiye, the GMCH will start heart transplant in next 2-3 months. Dr Gajbhiye told ‘The Hitavada’, “We have sought permission for performing heart transplant. We are checking its feasibility. We have our Cardio Vascular Thoracic Surgery Department (CVTS) where we have developed facilities for performing heart transplant. We are in search of the team that regularly performs heart transplant which will inspect our facilities and give us nod.” GMCH is also planning to start liver transplant. “We have department of Gastroenterology at Super Speciality Hospital, but don’t have Gastroenterology Surgery unit. For liver transplant, we need surgery facilities and staff too.We are mulling over outsourcing transplant surgeons.”

 

GMCH has already earned its name in deceased kidney transplants recording highest number in the State as claimed by Dr Gajbhiye Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital (IGGMCH) has sent a proposal of revival of organ retrieval centre defunct for the last one-and-a-half years. Dr Ravi Chavan, Dean, said,“The centre was not functioning. We have sent a proposal and sought guidance from the Government for starting the department.” Long ago, there was a provision of establishment of NonTranplant Organ Retrieval Centres in every medical college.

 

 

MAHARASHTRA Cabinet has takena decision on Monday under which25 Government-run medical collegeswill have critical care units dedicated to organ donation and transplant. The Cabinet has also proposed tostart post-graduate course in this field.At present, no GMCH has got any direction of letter from the Government. But this will be a very important steps, feels Dr Raj Gajbhiye, Dean, GMCH. Dr Sanjay Kolte, President of Zonal Transplant Coordination Centre welcomed the decision.“It is a progressive step. There are so many deceased donors, whose organs are not utilised because of lack of knowledge, awareness. In India, 0.8 per million population donates organ while requirement is of 128 per million. Fortunately in Nagpur ,we are maintaining a good rate. Against 500 waiting, the number of donors Nagpur registers is 70.”