Thiruvananthapuram

The Government of Kerala has taken steps to establish an Institute of Organ and Tissue Transplant in Kozhikode, aimed at becoming a premier center for research, training, and patient care in organ transplantation and related fields.

This institute, envisioned as a Center of Excellence, will bring together skilled doctors, researchers, and healthcare professionals to address the challenges currently faced in the organ transplant sector. Issues such as a rising number of patients, scarcity of organs, and inadequate facilities and medical expertise often lead to high costs and limited access to transplants, resulting in unfortunate outcomes for many in need.

The Kerala government intends to make organ transplants more accessible and affordable through this initiative. It plans to train healthcare professionals in super-specialty courses, conduct research programs, and implement strategies to procure and distribute healthy organs to patients in need. According to the Concept Note by HLL Infra Tech Services Limited (HITES), the project will cost Rs 558.68 crores, divided into Phase I (Rs. 373.68 crore) and Phase II (Rs. 185 crores). Funding will be sourced from the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) to develop the institute on a 25-acre campus, designed under a comprehensive Master Plan.

The proposed institute will feature a 489-bed hospital, including general beds, special wards, ICU beds, HDU beds, operation rooms, a dialysis center, and a dedicated Center for Transplantation Research. This initiative aims to significantly enhance healthcare capabilities in Kerala and serve as a crucial resource for organ transplant patients across the region.