Once built, it will be beneficial for hospitals in the area, says minister
Once built, it will be beneficial for hospitals in the area, says minister
Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Saturday that Bangalore to Chennai ExpresswayOnce built, it will help facilitate organ transplantation by reducing the travel time between the two cities to two hours.
He said hospitals in parts of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh could benefit from the expressway, which would enable faster transportation of amputated organs. He said that land acquisition and other works for the expressway are in progress.
Addressing a function organized by MGM Healthcare Hospital to complete 500 heart and lung transplants by his team led by KR Balakrishnan, Shri Gadkari said that such achievements have put India on the global map in the field of healthcare. kept on.
Complimenting the hospital, he said that this milestone was a start for the increase in the number of organ transplants in the country, and stressed the need to create awareness among the members of the public, and to ensure collaboration between hospitals. For people in small towns to benefit from the world- class treatment.
drone prototype
During the ceremony, a drone prototype was unveiled to transport organs between airports and hospitals. Dr. Balakrishnan, President, Cardiac Sciences, and Director, Institute of Heart and Lung Transplantation and Mechanical Circulatory Support, MGM Healthcare, said the drone was tested with a load of about 12 kg. He said the technology would be used after getting necessary regulatory clearances by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and other bodies.
Prashant Rajagopalan, director of MGM Healthcare, said drones will help in faster transportation of organs than the green corridor system now used to clear traffic on roads.
Tamil Nadu Health and Family Welfare Minister Mr. Subramaniam highlighted how the state is planning to start organ transplant program in all government medical college hospitals and district headquarters hospitals. He said that as a first step, permission has been given to all 36 government medical college hospitals and district headquarters hospitals to amputate organs.
He added that MGM Healthcare, with its vast experience in organ transplantation, can help in setting up organ transplant programs in government institutions.
Dr. Balakrishnan and Suresh Rao, Co-Directors, Institute of Heart and Lung Transplant and Mechanical Circulatory Support, MGM Healthcare, recalled the journey after the first heart transplant performed by the team in 1994. “We have successfully completed 514 heart and lung. Including over 200 transplants in the last two years despite the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown. This was made possible due to the tremendous support and expertise of the team, government bodies and transport teams,” Dr. Balakrishnan said.
He said that a good number of transplants were possible because of funding through Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme and the support of Aishwarya Trust.