50 years of Successful Transplant Trajectory by PGIMER

  Sunday 26th November 2023 at 18:00

 ‘The Golden Anniversary Summit on Renal & Pancreas Transplantation’

*Witnesses convergence of over 300 including globally acclaimed professionals from the world 

*Prof. Mukut Minz and Prof . Vinay Sakuja, former Heads, presented with Life Time Achievement Awards for their immense contribution 

*Other highlights include Award of License for Skin Bank, Launch of Pancreas Transplant Society & Release of Transplant Manual

 *Owing to stellar performance, PGIMER to take lead in designing transplant centres that manage multi-organ transplants:  Dr V.K. Paul, Member, NITI Aayog 

Chandigarh:26th November 2023: (Karthika Kalyani Singh//Punjab Screen)::

The Golden Anniversary Summit on Renal & Pancreas Transplantation, the three day milestone event in the field of organ transplantation organised by PGIMER’s Deptt. of Renal Transplant Surgery, concluded successfully with not only celebrating the achievements of the past five decades, but also setting a road map for new collaborations, innovation, and excellence in organ transplantation.

The landmark Summit that witnessed the convergence of over 300 experts, clinicians, researchers, policy makers  from across the globe to deliberate and exchange the latest advancements in renal and pancreatic transplantation, was graced by Prof V K Paul, Member NITI Aayog ,   as the Chief Guest and Dr. Krishan Kumar , Head, National Organ & Tissue Transplant Programme (NOTP), MoHFW and Prof. Vivek Lal , Director, PGIMER as the Guests of Honour at the inaugural ceremony. 

Commending PGIMER for the accomplishments in organ transplantation, the Chief Guest on the occasion, Dr. V K Paul , Member NITI Aayog stated, “Having performed close to 300 deceased donations leading more than 550 kidney transplants from these donors along with liver, pancreas, heart transplants, PGIMER’s model has delivered stellar results. So leveraging their experience, I urge PGIMER to take the lead in designing advanced transplant centres that manage multi-organ transplants in various situations of our nation across on the systems that are potentially possible.”

Dr Paul enumerated various initiatives undertaken by the Government to ease various aspects of organ transplantation that included Online pledging through a very friendly portal that generated almost 90.000 pledges since 3rd August, Removal of upper age limit of 65 years for eligibility for registration to receive deceased donor organ and  doing away with domicile issue under Government of India’s “One Nation, One Policy” for Organ Donation and Transplantation, Special casual leave for 42 days for a live donor, coverage of renal transplant under Ayushman Bharat, to mention a few.”  

The Chief Guest further stated, “Though there are stumbling blocks but the government is relentlessly pursuing the mission of organ transplantation in a systematic manner. The cause calls for an integrated, synergized and sustained effort of the government, healthcare professionals, and community and non-government organizations to create a culture of voluntary deceased organ donation.” 

Prof. Vivek Lal, Director PGIMER addressing as Guest of Honour , recounted the journey of PGIMER’s transplantation as he stated, “We go back 50 years and Prof. Prof. KS. Chugh and Prof. RVS Yadav put their heads and hearts together and raised a trajectory that has brought us to this pass that we are the spearhead of transplant surgeries in India.”

Speaking as the Guest of Honour, Dr. Krishan Kumar, lauded PGIMER for its commitment to innovation, patient care, and its significant contributions to the field of organ transplantation as he said, “PGIMER’s commitment to excellence and their significant advancements in the field of renal transplantation have undoubtedly elevated the standards of healthcare delivery. It’s easier to initiate a programme but not only to sustain it, but take it to greater heights by accomplishing multiple milestones is no cake walk and PGIMER has demonstrated this through its journey of five decades with remarkable success rates, since first renal transplant in 1973.”  

It was a proud moment as Prof. Mukut Minz, former head, Deptt. of Renal Transplant Surgery  and Prof. Vinay Sakuja , former head, Deptt. of Nephrology were  presented with Life Time Achievement Awards for their immense contribution in the field of renal transplantation.  

Elated with the success of the Summit, Prof. Ashish Sharma, Head, Deptt. of Renal Transplant Surgery & Organising Chairman stated, “The other highlights of the inaugural session included award of licence for Skin Banking to PGIMER which would help the burn patients, Launch of Pancreas  Transplant Society , to promote training  and research in pancreas transplant in country, Release of a book “Transplant Manual ” detailing protocols being followed at PGI Chandigarh for managing post-transplant patients.

Talking about the firsts in the Summit, Prof. Ashish Sharma,  stated, “The Summit had many firsts to its credit; the highlight was the Surgical ‘Hands-On’ Workshop’, the  first of its in Northern India that was designed to train surgeons for multi-organ retrieval and was participated by around 40 delegates with  trainers from England, Australia and United States.” 

Prof. Ashish Sharma further detailed, “Encompassing a wide range of topics, from innovative surgical techniques to advances in immunosuppressive therapies, the Summit presented focussed and comprehensive scientific sessions on Pancreas Transplantation, Immunology & Immunosuppressant for Surgeons, Unmet Needs in Transplant and Donation after Circulatory Arrest & Surgical Aspect Kidney Transplantation .  

“It goes to the credibility of PGIMER that globally acclaimed eminent  experts and think tanks in the field of transplantation joined us as esteemed speakers and shared their insights, experiences, and the latest research including Dr Vijay Mittal , Program Director of General Surgery at Ascension Providence Hospital in Michigan, Dr Shantanu Bhattacharjya , Director of Transplant Surgery at the Central Adelaide Local Health Network, Dr Ajay Sharma , a distinguished Consultant Surgeon at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Dr. Randeep , a PGI alumnus and now Professor of Surgery at the University of Rochester, Dr. Balamurugan N. Appakalai , Professor of Paediatrics and Surgery and Director of Islet Cell Transplantation at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Ohio State University, Dr Vrishali P Patil , Program Director of Transplant program at Dr. D. Y. Patil Super Specialty Hospital in Pune, Dr .  Pranjal Modi , Vice Chancellor of Gujarat, University of transplantation sciences and pioneer of minimally, invasive and robotic kidney transplant, Dr. Mukut Minz ,  Former Head of Renal Transplant Surgery at PGIMER Chandigarh and Pioneer in multi-organ transplantation with over 3500 kidney transplants to mention a few.

Presenting a rich mix of engaging panel discussions, probing discussions and exchange of views, the  three academic extravaganza concluded with delegates finding it an extremely enriching experience.