In an altruistic move, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences in Lucknow has decided to conduct free liver transplantation surgeries for the first 7 patients. Under this program, the patient or his relatives will not have to bear any charges that are incurred as a part of the procedure. Notably, the hospital administration has already prepared and sent related proposals to the higher authorities and it is expected that the scheme would be approved soon.
Liver transplantation to begin at the centre in September
The OPD services for the liver transplantation procedure were started on July 22, at the institute and the patients with chronic liver issues are being screened here now. In addition to this, the officials have also initiated the counseling process for the donor individuals. Given that the COVID infection tallies have contracted significantly, PGI Director Dr. R.K. Dhiman stated that liver transplant procedures would be executed at the premium healthcare centre in the month of September.
Economically weak patients to be preferred for the free procedure
Currently, the patients are being checked in the OPD from Monday to Friday and around 5 individuals have given their consent for the lifesaving surgery. Further, the first seven patients will get the benefit of zero-cost transplantation procedures and the economically weak individuals will be given priority. As per records, the average cost of liver transplantation ranges between ₹12 to ₹15 lakhs while private centres charge ₹35 to ₹40 lakhs for the same.
The doctors at the institute have been trained by experts in Delhi. This team consists of 4 surgeons, a hepatologist, one radiologist, 3 anesthesia experts and one pathologist.
