Cuttack: The screening of patients for the heart transplantation programme commenced on Saturday at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.
“Screening for heart transplantation is underway. We will soon begin heart transplants at SCB. Once suitable patients are identified and brain-dead donors are available, we will retrieve the heart within four hours and initiate the transplantation process in compliance with government norms, the relevant Act, and medical procedures,” said Health & Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling while addressing reporters at the hospital.
The Minister described the initiative as historic, noting that it will mark the first time a heart transplantation programme is undertaken at a government hospital in Odisha.
The Directorate of Medical Education and Training (DMET) had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Chennai-based MGM Healthcare last month to facilitate heart transplantation procedures at SCB. Representatives from MGM Healthcare were present during the patient screening process.
The programme is expected to start soon, paving the way for advanced cardiac care at the state level.
