Govt to construct own institution in Kozhikode for organ transplant at cost of Rs 500 crore

Monday 25 July, 2022 | 6:08 AM READ MALAYALAM VERSION

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government will spend Rs 500 crore to set up a hospital in Kozhikode with comprehensive facilities as defects in the current system related to organ transplants and private hospitals are robbing the patients in the region.

The Institute of Organ Transplantation is the first of its kind in the country.

The government accepted the recommendation submitted by Malappuram native Dr. Biju Pottakkad, a professor at Pondicherry Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER). A high-level meeting presided over by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan approved the initial steps.

Initial work will begin on a two-acre site in the Kozhikode Medical College campus. 20 acres of land in Kozhikode leprosy hospital premises will be acquired for this. Dr. Biju Pottakad will be appointed as special officer to coordinate the activities. The terms of service and salary received by Dr. Biju in JIPMER will be followed in the appointment.

Similar to the Thiruvananthapuram Regional Cancer Centre, the institution will be controlled by a governing body with the Chief Minister as Chairman, Health Minister as Vice Chairman and secretaries of various departments as members.

K-SOTO (formerly Mrita Sanjivani), which operates in the country for organ donation surgery, is currently coordinating the organ donation process at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College, Kerala, as a sub-division of SOTO.

Last month, there was a delay in transplanting the organ brought from Kochi to the patient at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College and the death of the patient caused controversy.

Similar to Super Specialty

Facilities similar to a super specialty hospital

Experts from within and outside the state

Supervision of doctors from the institute for organ transplantation in medical colleges

Five years of organ donation

232 organs from 75 persons have been donated posthumously in the last five years.

Donors and organs per year (in brackets)

2018 - 8 (29)
2019-19(55)
2020-21(70)
2021 - 17(49)
2022 (until now) -10(29)

Kidney registrants in K-Soto - 2225

O-Group......................... 1021

A-Group............................. 543

B-Group............................. 519