TN wins organ transplant award for 5th yr

Tamil Nadu holds the record for maximum number of organ donations and performing maximum organ transplants. A total of 845 organ donations have been recorded in the State in 2018, while there are about 12,413 pledged donors till date. There have been 7,642 organ donations in the Tamil Nadu since the programme was started after 2008 with donation from 1,308 donors across the State.

State Health Minister C Vijaya Baskar received the award at a ceremony in New Delhi on Saturday presented by the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Harsh Vardhan and Minister of State Ashwini Kumar Choubey. Tamil Nadu Health secretary Beela Rajesh was also present at the ceremony.

Along with this, Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital was awarded the best Government Hospital by the Union Ministry, while Stanley Medical College was given a special award for conducting bilateral hand cadaveric transplantation successfully at a Government Hospital.

Tamil Nadu is the first State to do a successful hand transplant at Stanley Medical College and Hospital. Dr Rama Devi, head of plastic surgery department at Stanley Medical College, who performed the bilateral hand cadaveric transplantation was dedicated the special award.

In Tamil Nadu, the state government sanctions up to Rs 35 lakh for organ transplantation under Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (CMCHIS) for all the patients who are eligible for the scheme.