A helipad will be built at Victoria Hospital to streamline organ transportation. Dr. Deepak, Medical Superintendent, stated the facility would expand the organ donation program, benefiting economically disadvantaged patients
Published Apr 01, 2025 | 12:17 AM ⚊ Updated Apr 01, 2025 | 12:24 AM
Organ donation. (iStock)
Synopsis: The Department of Medical Education has sanctioned ₹1 crore to establish a state-of-the-art organ retrieval center at Victoria Hospital, Bengaluru. This initiative, aimed at enhancing organ donation, coincides with the hospital’s 125th anniversary. The center, set to be operational in 4-6 months, will streamline organ procurement, providing a dedicated unit for collecting organs from deceased donors, as stated by Dr. Sharan Prakash Patil
Organ donation is widely regarded as the highest form of altruism, and the Department of Medical Education is taking significant steps to enhance the organ donation program in Karnataka. This initiative brings new hope to those in dire need of organ transplants.
In a significant move to modernise organ donation facilities, the Department of Medical Education has sanctioned ₹1 crore for the establishment of a state-of-the-art organ retrieval center.
The official order for the project has already been issued, with plans to complete it within the next four to six months. This milestone coincides with the 125th anniversary of Victoria Hospital, adding further significance to the initiative.
The new organ retrieval center will function as a dedicated unit for collecting organs from deceased donors, ensuring a streamlined process for organ procurement.
Dr. Sharan Prakash Patil, the Minister for Medical Education, Skill Development, Livelihood, and the in-charge Minister for Raichur district, emphasised the importance of this project, stating that the center would play a crucial role in advancing organ transplantation efforts.
“The center will be pivotal in streamlining organ procurement for transplants,” Dr. Patil noted in a press release on Monday, 31 March.
Victoria Hospital, already one of South India’s largest medical institutions, is home to several key services, including a trauma and emergency care center, the Institute of Gastroenterology and Urology Transplantation, the Regional Institute of Ophthalmology at Minto Hospital, and a Skin Bank.
The addition of the organ retrieval center will further strengthen its medical capabilities.
The center will be equipped with essential services such as ICU facilities, an operation theater, a laboratory, and advanced diagnostic capabilities. Additionally, it will provide dedicated staff to ensure the smooth execution of organ retrieval and transplantation processes.
For the effective implementation of organ donation programs, key factors include identifying potential donors, conducting family counseling, providing advanced ICU care, ensuring safe organ retrieval procedures, and adhering to legal frameworks.
The allocated funding will ensure the holistic development of the center, which Dr. Patil believes will benefit economically disadvantaged patients.
To ensure efficient organ transportation, a helipad will be constructed at Victoria Hospital, facilitating the seamless transfer of organs. Dr. Deepak, the Medical Superintendent of Victoria Hospital, expressed that the new facility would help scale up the organ donation program, particularly benefiting underprivileged patients.
“The center will have dedicated ICUs and beds. Once a family consents to organ donation, the patient will be transferred from ICUs to the designated facility for retrieval,” Dr. Deepak explained.
With the establishment of this pioneering organ retrieval center, Victoria Hospital is poised to make a significant contribution to the organ donation landscape, benefiting countless patients in need of life-saving transplants.
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
