Kottayam, Kerala: In a landmark achievement for India’s public healthcare sector, the Government Medical College Hospital (MCH) in Kottayam has created history by successfully performing three major organ transplants in a single day, setting a new national record.
With this milestone, Kottayam MCH has become the first government hospital in India to complete three organ transplants—heart, lung, and kidney—on the same day. The hospital also joins the ranks of premier institutions like AIIMS New Delhi as one of the few government centers in the country capable of performing lung transplants.
The donor, A.R. Aneesh (38) from Poozhanad, Kavinpuram, Thiruvananthapuram, was declared brain-dead at Kottayam MCH. His noble act of organ donation saved multiple lives, as his heart, lungs, kidney, and two corneas were successfully transplanted to waiting patients. This event also marked the eleventh successful heart transplant carried out at the hospital.
The monumental feat was led by Superintendent Dr. T.K. Jayakumar, with a team of nearly 50 medical experts, including surgeons, nurses, perfusionists, technicians, and support staff. Working tirelessly, the teams performed the procedures simultaneously in three separate operation theatres.
The organ retrieval process began at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, followed by transplantation surgeries starting around 9 p.m., which continued until 2 a.m. on Thursday.
According to hospital sources, the heart was transplanted into a 59-year-old man from Thrissur, the lung into a 27-year-old woman from Kottayam, and the kidney into a 38-year-old man from Pathanamthitta. Doctors confirmed that all surgeries were successful, though the next few days are crucial for the recipients’ recovery.
This remarkable achievement not only showcases Kottayam MCH’s growing capabilities in advanced medical procedures but also reinforces Kerala’s reputation as a leader in organ transplantation and public healthcare excellence.
(Photo courtesy: Abelthamby/wikipedia)