JNIMS records 63 kidney transplantations
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, March 05 2025: In a first for the entire Northeast region, the state-owned Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) has successfully conducted 63 kidney transplant surgeries since the launch of its organ transplant programme on June 18, 2022 .

A statement issued by the JNIMS authority highlighted the institute's achievements in organ transplantation, reinforcing its position as one of the top medical colleges in the north eastern region.

According to the statement, JNIMS has performed 59 kidney transplants involving live donors with the necessary No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the directorate of health services.

Additionally, the institute has conducted four transplants using kidneys from deceased or brain stem death donors.

In another medical milestone, JNIMS performed Northeast India's first swap transplant, also known as a peer exchange transplant, which is conducted when an intended donor and recipient pair face compatibility issues, necessitating an exchange of donors with another incompatible pair.

The pioneering achievement marks a new chapter in kidney transplantation in the region, offering hope to patients who would otherwise face difficulties in finding compatible donors.

The statement further informed that 92 per cent of the 63 kidney transplants were conducted under the sponsorship of the Chief Minister's Hakshelgi Tengbang (CMHT) and the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) schemes.

As on date, there are no pending transplant cases that have received NOC from the state medical board with the last transplant surgery conducted on February 25, while four cases are in process.

The first kidney transplant involving a deceased donor was successfully performed at JNIMS on August 2, 2023.The statement elaborated that deceased donors, under appropriate conditions, can donate multiple organs and tissues, potentially saving several lives.

In Manipur, kidney and cornea donation remain the only recorded organ donation types from deceased donors.

So far, JNIMS has received donations of four pairs of kidneys and three pairs of corneas.

To facilitate organ donation and transplantation, JNIMS has formed its Brain Stem Death Committee with the necessary approval from the state government.

The committee plays a critical role in identifying and certifying brain stem death cases, which is a prerequisite for organ donation from deceased individuals.

The institute has also encouraged willing donors to donate their organs and bodies for medical education and research, contributing to the training of future healthcare professionals.

In an effort to promote awareness and educate the public about the significance of organ donation, JNIMS has been conducting talks and awareness programmes in collaboration with the Mohan Foundation, a multi-organ harvest aid network.

The institute emphasised that increasing awareness about organ donation can help bridge the gap between demand and availability, ultimately saving more lives.

Furthermore, JNIMS is enhancing its healthcare services by offering 57 laboratory tests free of cost, providing crucial diagnostic support to patients, the statement added.

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