GITAM Hospital gets approval for kidney transplants

GITAM Hospital, part of the GITAM Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (GIMSR) at Rushikonda, has received approval from the Jeevandan organ donation initiative to undertake kidney transplants involving both living and deceased donors.

GIMSR Operations Head Dr. Karteek said on Saturday that the approval would enable the hospital to expand access to kidney transplantation for patients from Visakhapatnam and neighbouring districts.

The multidisciplinary team of specialists in nephrology, urology and transplant surgery, anaesthesiology, critical care, radiology and laboratory medicine will support the transplant programme. The team will oversee all stages of the transplantation process, including donor and recipient evaluation, surgery and post-operative care.

According to the hospital, the programme will be conducted in accordance with statutory requirements, Jeevandan protocols and national regulations governing organ transplantation.

The hospital has set up dedicated operating theatres for donors and recipients, along with a specialised transplant unit to conduct the procedures and provide post-operative care.

The management said it would offer kidney transplant services at competitive tariffs to make transplantation more accessible to patients in the region.

GITAM Hospital is a 750-bed tertiary care teaching hospital with 73 intensive care beds, offering medical, surgical and super-speciality services. The management said the new kidney transplant programme would further strengthen its specialised healthcare services in Visakhapatnam and the surrounding areas.