First ever kidney transplant in Tripura successfully completed at GB Hospital

Achieving a milestone in modern health care facilities, the Agartala Government Medical College (AGMC) and GB Hospital successfully completed its first-ever kidney transplant of a 20-year-old boy on Monday after spending almost 5 hours in the most critical surgeries.

After the successful transplant, addressing a press conference, the Medical Superintendent of GB Pant Hospital, Dr Sankar Chakraborty, said that this marks the first kidney transplant in Tripura.

After the historic milestone in the modern healthcare scenario of Tripura, Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha through ‘X’ said that “Today's achievement will be marked as a milestone in the state's medical services. It's something that seemed impossible just a few days ago.  As a result of the state government's continuous efforts to improve healthcare services, today, a critical surgery like a Kidney Transplant has become possible in the state.  I extend my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to the medical team and other health staff involved in this surgery. I also wish for the speedy recovery of both the kidney donor and recipient.”

While Dr Sankar Chakraborty on August 21, 2023, they held a meeting on kidney transplantation, and on August 23, a committee was formed with the then Chief Medical Superintendent, now Director of Health Service, Dr. Sanjib Kumar Debbarma, as chairman.

“As per the committee, all the doctors related to the transplant were included, and a protocol was made on January 4, 2024, which we forwarded to Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha, and it was approved by him on January 18 on the same year. Step by step, we completed all the necessary procedures and started looking for a mentor in the Northeast region. The Health department selected Shija Hospitals and Research Institute of Manipur, and they agreed to assist us on technical grounds,” he said.

Dr Chakraborty said that kidney transplant on Subham Sutradhar (20) has been done successfully at AGMC and GBP Hospital, Agartala. The kidney has been donated by his mother Munna Saha Sutradhar. Both the mother and the son are in stable condition. This was the first ever kidney transplant done in the state, stated the medical superintendent of GBP Hospital.

He said that the entire process of the kidney transplant has been performed by the doctors of Tripura and Shija Hospital and Research Institute, Manipur. The entire cost of the transplant has been borne by the state government. Chief Minister Prof. (Dr.) Manik Saha has thanked the doctors for this achievement. The medical superintendent also said, the chief minister has always been giving his support to ensure advanced treatment facilities in the state.

“In Mukhyamantri Samipesu, chaired by Chief Minister Dr Saha, who is also the health minister, the patient along with his parents came to the Chief Minister, and we were instructed to take action. We spoke with SHIJA Hospital and other doctors in the state, conducted all necessary medical examinations of the patient and we fixed July 8 for the operation,” said Dr Chakraborty.

For this kidney transplant very recently the state government had signed a five year MoU with Shija Hospitals. For this transplant twelve doctors from Manipur led by the consultant nephrologist Guliver Potsangbam had come to Tripura. The state government has also borne all the expenses incurred for their visit to the state. They will be coming to Tripura again in future if necessary for another transplant. The transplantation process started at 9 am on Monday morning and ended at around 2.30 pm.

From Tripura’s side in the team were Dr.Bijit Lodh, Dr.Mukut Debnath,Dr.Manas Gope, Dr.Samaresh Paul, Dr.Tapan Debbarma, Dr.Bhaskar Majumder, Dr.Anupam Majumder, Nursing officer Diptanu Sutradhar, Kishan Deb, Sumita Sinha, Prasenjit Mahajan, Nabajit Tripura. In the observation team were nursing in-charge Tapati Chakraborty, transplant co-coordinator Himadri Kar.The team of OT technicians included Ratan Mani Debbarma and Dipak Chakraborty.