Pune: Sassoon General Hospital Secures Renewal of Liver Transplant License After Nine-Month Wait

Pune, 17th December 2023: Sassoon General Hospital has brought relief to patients awaiting liver transplants, with the renewal of its license for the life-saving procedures after a prolonged nine-month wait. The hospital’s license had lapsed in February of this year, causing concern for the thirteen patients currently on the waiting list. This procedure, which costs lakhs of rupees at private health facilities, is a crucial lifeline for those in need.

Dr. Kiran Kumar Jadhav, the superintendent and liver transplant coordinator at Sassoon Hospital, expressed the challenges faced during the renewal process. The application for license renewal was submitted on January 10, with subsequent follow-ups proving insufficient until October when the renewal was finally granted. Dr. Jadhav emphasized the urgency, stating, “We will soon begin the transplants as soon as we are allotted the organs for transplant.”

The delay in the renewal process was attributed to the prolonged absence of the inspection team from the Director of Health Services. Dr. Jadhav highlighted the specific recommendations made during the inspection, focusing on the need to upgrade the anesthesia team and ensure an adequate workforce. The involvement of an inspection team from another district, owing to the government hospital status, further contributed to the delay.

Sassoon Hospital, having conducted five liver transplants from cadaver donors between 2017 and 2022, aims to carry out at least 15 more such transplants before venturing into live donor transplants. Dr. Jadhav explained the rationale, stating, “It is easier to take care of one life and gain experience before we begin with live donor transplants.” The current patients are enrolled in the Zonal Transplant Coordination Committee (ZTCC) for streamlined coordination.

According to the Zonal Transplant Coordination Committee (ZTCC), the Pune zone boasts approximately 24 approved centers for liver transplants, with a waiting list of 565 patients. The renewal of Sassoon Hospital’s license marks a positive step in addressing the pressing needs of those awaiting life-saving liver transplants in the region.