AIMS joins hands with MGM Healthcare, Chennai to announce the launch of Heart and lung transplant program in North India – ET HealthWorld

The program will help in creating the smooth availability of heart and lung transplants in North India besides raising awareness of organ donation in the country.

Sharing his views on the launch program, Dr Narendra Kumar. Pandey, Chairman & Managing Director, Asian Institute of Medical Sciences said, “There is a dearth of organ donation and good quality transplant centres in Northern states which results in either the patients having to travel to the South or to procure organs from nearby states for transplantation.” Both the issues result in inconvenience and increased cost to patients. The program aims to address these issues and provide valuable and actionable solutions for organ transplantation.

MGM Healthcare Director, Dr. Prashanth Rajagopalan on the association with Asian Institute of Medical Sciences, Faridabad said, “MGM Healthcare, Chennai is delighted to be associated with one of the leading hospitals in Delhi to provide Heart & Lung Transplant service under the pioneering leadership of Dr K R Balakrishnan and team. The association with Asian Hospital is strategic, which will help sharing knowledge and on-site transplant support from the team of experts from MGM Healthcare Chennai.

Dr KR Balakrishnan, Director, Institute of Heart & Lung Transplant and Mechanical Circulatory Support, MGM Healthcare, Chennai, one of the leading experts in the field of Heart transplantation in India , having done close to 500 transplants, said “Our clinical team at MGM Healthcare has repeatedly manoeuvred difficult conditions to ensure organ transplants are successful and today joining hands with Asian Hospitals will ensure the process is eased further and ensure timely service for many in this region.”

He further added, “Medical technology and treatment protocols have greatly evolved over the past few years. ensuring that patients get the best that medical science has to offer .”

Dr. Amit Chaudhary Associate Director, Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgery said “India lags behind several other countries across the globe in terms of access to donated organs . Although there are enough organs available for transplantation, the waiting list for an organ transplant is long due to logistic issues and patients have to wait for their turn. Lack of awareness about organ donation is cited as one of the greatest roadblocks to organ transplant.”

Dr Suresh Rao KG is the Co-Director of the Institute of Heart and Lung Transplant & Mechanical Circulatory Support, said, “MGM Healthcare has always put in their best efforts in the field of organ transplantation even during the tough times of pandemic. The MoU with Asian hospitals would increase the collective cause of providing better healthcare facilities in a country that has a high mortality rate due to cardiovascular disease.”

Dr Ravi Kumar R, Senior Consultant & Associate Clinical Lead Cardiology & Heart Failure Program emphasized that “MGM Healthcare has been providing the best and cost-effective treatment even for those patients who have been extremely critical with cardiac and pulmonary-related conditions. Joining hands with Asian Hospitals will open the doors for patients to enjoy the same expertise closer to them.”

The Southern states of India have a significantly higher rate of organ donation as compared to the rest of the country and hence have a number of of highly advanced transplant centres dealing with cadaveric organs.