After the first successful kidney transplantation in the state last year, the Tripura government is set to prepare a roadmap for organ donation, organ transplantation, and high-end healthcare facilities in the state itself.
Chief Minister Manik Saha, a renowned maxillofacial surgeon holding the health portfolio, announced the same in a social media post on Wednesday. “To strengthen organ donation and transplantation process, a crucial meeting was held today at the Chief Minister War Room attended by officials from Mohan Foundation, Chennai, AIIMS, New Delhi, doctors from Agartala Government Medical College and GBP Hospital and officials of the state government,” Saha said.
He added that the meeting resolved to build capacity at Agartala Government Medical College (AGMC) and Govind Ballabh Pant (GBP) Hospital for an immunology lab, establish a task force and implementation group, and conduct mass awareness regarding the importance of organ donations by both living and deceased persons.
On July 8 last year, Tripura witnessed its first successful kidney transplant operation at a state-run hospital. The operation was performed on a 20-year-old patient at AGMC and GBP Hospital and lasted for five hours.
The kidney transplant was conducted based on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the state government with Manipur’s Shija Hospital a few days before the operation.
Soon after the operation, the government found itself in the middle of a controversy over leasing out 28 acres of land to the Manipur-based hospital. Former minister and Congress Working Committee member MLA Sudip Roy Barman accused Saha of alleged irregularities in allotting government land for a private medical college.
Saha later defended his stance, saying his government has decided to develop super-specialty infrastructure in the state so that people can access all medical facilities without travelling outside for treatment.
Story continues below this ad
During the recently concluded winter session of the Assembly, Saha said that many investors are willing to invest in setting up medical, dental, homoeopathic and Ayurvedic colleges in Tripura.