AIIMS in Punjab's Bathinda all set to begin kidney transplant services
Bathinda, May 15: In a significant development, the Punjab Government has granted the necessary license to the AIIMS in Bathinda to commence kidney transplant services. This announcement came during a press conference held in Bathinda on Wednesday by Dr DK Singh, Executive Director, AIIMS Bathinda.
Dr Singh said this service would be a boon for residents of Punjab and Haryana, as they would now have access to high-quality kidney transplant facilities within government healthcare institutions.
Dr Kawaljit Singh, Head of the Urology Department at AIIMS Bathinda, highlighted the exorbitant costs associated with kidney transplants in private hospitals, ranging from Rs 10 to Rs 15 lakh. With the initiation of kidney transplant services at AIIMS Bathinda, Dr Kawaljit Singh expressed hope that the procedure could be offered at significantly reduced costs, and under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, it might even be provided free of charge.
He further elaborated on the prevalent kidney-related issues in India, citing an alarming statistic of nearly two lakh people requiring kidney transplants annually. However, due to the prohibitive expenses involved, many patients are unable to undergo the procedure, leading to a considerable number of deaths. The doctor emphasised that while many relatives were willing to donate kidneys, the high costs often deter them from doing so, resulting in tragic outcomes for the patients.
With AIIMS Bathinda stepping in to provide affordable kidney transplant services, he expressed hope that more lives could be saved, and the burden of kidney-related ailments alleviated across the region.
- PTC NEWS
