Technically, Liver transplant is the most demanding of all solid organ transplants and also perhaps the most difficult. However once transplanted the long term results are gratifying and comparable if not better than kidney transplants. The first national liver transplant meeting organised by Sir Gangaram Hospital in Delhi on 2^nd Feb 2003 showed the seriousness of the group in networking and uniting with the kidney cadaver group in the country. Similar conference by the cardiac group would be welcome and it is time that some of the senior cardiac surgeons and cardiologists of the country take a lead in this direction. For the last few years at its annual conference, the Indian Society of Organ Transplantation has always tried its best to organize separate sessions foe these two groups; however, the participation has been poor at these meetings, hence the wide participation at this first meeting seemed like a significant step forward.

The Liver and other groups should tread carefully on the path of transplants so that no bad publicity falls on the transplant programme. There are enough woes troubling the kidney transplant programme in India and if the other transplants add anything adverse it is likely to be fatal for the overall growth of the programme. This is something all the new entrants should ponder about and not indulge in any mistakes that were done by their seniors’ kidney transplant group. They have initially to be selective in choosing their cases and not take up high risk cases and are also perhaps better off doing “cadaver liver transplant” even if the programme is slow to take off. The public is watching them very carefully and good results are essential for growth of the programme. The liver meet also brought the common agenda of how to promote cadaver transplants in the country and overcome the hurdles facing the programme. Liver, cardiac, Lungs and pancreas transplant all across the world have had a “piggy ride” on the back of cadaver kidney transplants. The support of the liver group would be welcome addition to the programme and they should be a s proactive as possible in helping with the cadaver programme.