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First Living Kidney Transplant in a Government Hospital in Manipur – Scripting History

In the year 2017, MOHAN Foundation undertook to work in the Northeast region of the Country. A very underserved area, the whole of Northeast lacks in medical advancements and the infrastructure required to provide critical facilities, such as lifesaving transplants, for its population.

Supported by SBI Foundation, they decided to start their efforts in Manipur. This was like a godsend for the state. Imphal, the capital city, has one central medical institute (RIMS) and a state-run medical institute (JNIMS). As the Urologist in JNIMS (Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences), I felt a deep desire to start the kidney transplant program for the people of Manipur. I saw firsthand the acute need for the same as poor patients requiring transplants would go to bigger cities, at great personal, physical, and financial discomfort.

With MOHAN Foundation and Dr. Sunil Shroff's support, my resolve was strengthened. The Foundation started a systematically planned intervention to engage the stakeholders and help them understand the importance of organ donation and transplantation. The first CME was conducted at JNIMS in December 2017. A gap analysis was done and collectively needs were identified.

Post the meeting, MOHAN Foundation facilitated a scholarship for me for a fellowship for a year at the University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire, UK. I came back more confident and determined to start the transplant program at JNIMS.

Dr. Rajo Singh, Director, Directorate of Health Services (DHS) invited MOHAN Foundation as their “Knowledge Partner” and encouraged them to conduct public awareness and training to promote organ donation and transplantation in the state.

Subsequent to this, the Foundation undertook an intense awareness drive and organised many training programs, workshops, meetings and other activities involving stakeholders from the government, hospitals (government and private), police, forensic etc.

The Medical Directorate has formed a 'State Brain Death committee' involving the public and private institutes having ICU facilities. Covid did break the momentum for some time, however, MOHAN Foundation renewed its efforts with us in 2021. We were able to provide an office to MOHAN Foundation staff within JNIMS                

The month of June 2022 was a historic month as it marked the beginning of the living donor kidney transplantation program. With the help of MOHAN Foundation and under the guidance of Dr. Sunil Shroff, Founder, MOHAN Foundation, our team at JNIMS successfully performed 3 living donor renal transplants. Dr. Nagaraj, Consultant - Surgeon, MOHAN Foundation shared his expertise and led the team. The first kidney transplant was performed on June 18, 2022, followed by 2 more transplants on June 19 and 20 consecutively. All the recipients and their donors are doing well.

This is the first time that kidney transplants are being performed in a government hospital in the state of Manipur and only the second one in the whole of Northeast after Guwahati Medical College and Hospital, Assam.

All the three recipients availed the benefit of Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) package and did not bear any expenses except for the medical investigations done outside the JNIMS. Many people in the region needing kidney transplants are now coming forward to register at JNIMS. On the other hand, MF team has boosted public education on organ donation and hopefully we will start our deceased organ donation program soon.

Hon'ble Chief Minister of the State, Shri N. Biren Singh visited JNIMS on June 26, 2022, and congratulated the entire team. He also officially discharged the first recipient. During his visit, he announced a reward of Rs. 5 Lakhs to the entire team involved in the transplants. It was a moment of extreme pride and joy for all of us.