Bhubaneswar: Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda on Monday virtually inaugurated a comprehensive Liver Transplant Unit and launched an Advanced Surgical Robotic System at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, marking a major boost to tertiary healthcare in Odisha and eastern India.
Describing the occasion as a historic milestone, Nadda said the launch would significantly strengthen healthcare infrastructure and provide access to advanced, life-saving treatment for patients across Odisha and neighbouring states. He noted that while the institute has already been performing kidney and bone marrow transplants, the commencement of liver transplant services marks a new chapter in advanced public healthcare in the region.
The minister said the facility would make treatment for end-stage liver disease accessible to patients from Odisha as well as neighbouring states such as West Bengal and Assam, particularly benefiting economically weaker sections by reducing the need for long-distance travel.
The institute has established a dedicated liver transplant operation theatre, a 10-bedded intensive care unit and a specialty clinic for post-transplant follow-up. Two successful liver transplants have already been performed, with both patients recovering well, officials said.
Nadda also said AIIMS Bhubaneswar has become the first government medical institution in Odisha to operationalise a comprehensive robotic surgery programme. The robotic system will initially cater to Urology, General Surgery, Gynaecology and Paediatric Surgery, enabling minimally invasive procedures with improved precision and faster recovery.
Speaking on the occasion, Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi said the institute has emerged as a role model among AIIMS institutions. Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava said transplant services are being provided under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana and Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi to ensure financial protection for poor patients.
AIIMS Bhubaneswar Executive Director Ashutosh Biswas said a 10-bedded advanced liver transplant ICU along with a modular OT is now fully operational and the robotic surgery programme will cover multiple specialties.
