Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh has recorded its first kidney transplant, carried out at the Tomo Riba Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (TRIHMS), Chief Minister Pema Khandu said on Monday, calling the procedure a significant milestone in the state’s healthcare development.
Centres and collaboration
The surgery was performed on Sunday with the assistance of a team of senior transplant specialists from New Delhi-based Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, the Chief Minister said at a media briefing in his office. He said the state government has been collaborating with Sir Ganga Ram Hospital for the past three years to build clinical capacity among TRIHMS doctors and nurses.
"The first kidney transplant was successfully performed at TRIHMS on Sunday with the support of a team of senior transplant specialists from New Delhi-based Sir Ganga Ram Hospital," the Chief Minister said.
Khandu said he, the Health Minister and the Health Advisor visited TRIHMS after the surgery and met the recipient and relatives of the donor. He described the success of the operation as evidence that TRIHMS clinicians have been able to adopt specialized techniques required for transplantation.
Next steps in specialised care
The chief minister indicated the state government will work to increase the number of kidney transplants performed at TRIHMS in the coming days. He said other specialised departments at the institute are being strengthened, with cardiology identified as the next major focus area.
The cardiology programme at TRIHMS, including DNB training, will be further reinforced, Khandu added, signalling plans to expand postgraduate medical education and specialist services within the state’s lone tertiary medical institute.
Cancer hospital progress and manpower planning
On the ongoing construction of a cancer hospital at Midpu, the Chief Minister said roughly 55 per cent of the work has been completed. He attributed earlier delays to land-related issues but said the project is now progressing and the facility is expected to begin functioning next year. The government has started assessing manpower requirements for the cancer centre, he said.
Financial assistance for organ transplants increased
The state government has enhanced financial assistance available under its healthcare support programme for organ transplants, officials said. The hikes are intended to reduce the out-of-pocket burden on patients requiring costly procedures outside or within the state.
| Procedure | Earlier assistance | Revised assistance |
|---|---|---|
| Kidney transplant | ₹10 lakh | ₹12.5 lakh |
| Bone marrow transplant | ₹15 lakh | ₹17.5 lakh |
| Liver transplant | ₹20 lakh | ₹22.5 lakh |
Implications for patients and regional care
Performing the transplant within the state is likely to reduce travel and accommodation costs for many patients and their families who formerly had to seek such specialised care outside Arunachal Pradesh. The Chief Minister’s remarks suggest a sustained push to develop TRIHMS as a referral centre capable of providing complex tertiary care locally.
- Local capacity building: Three years of collaboration with Sir Ganga Ram Hospital focused on upskilling TRIHMS staff.
- Service expansion: Cardiology and oncology infrastructure and training are being prioritised following the transplant success.
- Financial support: Increased state assistance for transplants aims to make procedures more accessible.
The Chief Minister’s office and TRIHMS have not released detailed clinical data on the case, including the ages or medical status of the donor and recipient; officials said only that the transplant succeeded with specialist support from Delhi. Further operational details, including how frequently transplants will be scheduled at TRIHMS and the long-term plan for sustaining specialist involvement from outside institutions, are expected to be clarified by the health department in due course.
The development comes amid wider efforts by state authorities to augment tertiary healthcare capacity in Arunachal Pradesh so that advanced surgical and medical treatments can be delivered closer to home for residents of the north-eastern state.
