THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With 70-80 per cent of the work on the construction of the liver transplantation unit at the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College (TMC) completed, the stage is being set for the first liver transplantation surgery to be held in a hospital in the public sector.
The unit came up in a surprisingly short period of less than 18 months, after it was announced by the government two years ago.
Though allegations of possible delay surfaced when the project was underway, it has all been laid to rest thanks to the record time in which the unit came up.
Some of the major hospitals in the state are said to have taken 2 -4 years for setting up a similar unit.
Noting that about 75 per cent of the construction is complete and qualified people are being recruited, Medical College Principal and in-charge of liver transplantation in TMC, Dr Thomas Mathew said, “If we get the right candidate, we can perform liver transplantation in the unit soon.”
A list of patients who await a transplant has been prepared and we are in search of possible donors, he added.
The setting up of the special ICU and supporting ICUs are progressing at a fast pace. Recruitment of personnel is under way and the entire team would be set up within a short time, he said.
The training of the surgeons, anaesthesiologists, radiologists, pathologists, nursing and other paramedical staff, Mathew said, has already begun in association with KIMS, who has signed an MoU with TMC.
Moreover, the staff will be trained at a private hospital in Chennai, on a rotational basis.
Sources at the TMC say the Medical College has already entrusted the Kerala Medical Services Corporation Ltd (KMSCL) with the purchasing of high end equipment. And in case of any shortage, an agreement has been made with the KIMS to borrow equipment, they added.
swift mode
75 per cent of the construction is complete and qualified people are being recruited
Recruitment of personnel is under way and the entire team would be set up within a short time
The setting up of the special ICU and supporting ICUs is progressing
KMSCL has been entrusted with the purchasing of high end equipment