KOCHI:Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan on Tuesday visited Lisie Hospital to congratulate Dr Jose Chacko Periappuram, one of the pioneers in heart transplantation surgeries in the State.
Achuthanandan met Dr Jose Chacko and honoured the latter by draping a ‘ponnada’.
“The success of doctors like Jose Chacko is a model for doctors of the new generation. Giving new life to a person is a great thing,” said the Opposition leader. He remembered that the former LDF Government, led by him, had recommended Padma Shri for the cardiac surgeon.
Achuthanandan was welcomed by hospital director Thomas Vaikathuparambil. Dr Rony Mathew, Dr Jacob Abraham, Dr Jo Joseph and assistant director Varghese Palatty were in the team. The most recent heart transplantation surgery by Dr Jose Chacko was the one performed on Chalakudy-native Mathew Achadan.
Mathew Achadan’s wife Bindu was also present at the hospital at the time of the visit.
Achadan to Leave Hospital Soon
Mathew Achadan, who underwent heart transplantation surgery recently at Lisie Hospital, will be discharged on September 3. “A second biopsy was conducted on him on Tuesday, and he is being subjected to eco-test regularly. He could have been discharged earlier, but, the family members wanted him to recover further as they feared that he could contract infection at home,” said Dr Jose Chacko. Achadan, 47, underwent the surgery in July. Dr Jose Chacko has advised Achadan to engage in a job that is less strenuous.