Union Health and Family Welfare Minister J. P. Nadda on Monday inaugurated the Liver Transplant Unit and launched an Advanced Robotic Surgery System at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, marking a major expansion of tertiary care services in eastern India.
The launch, held virtually, is expected to significantly strengthen advanced healthcare infrastructure in Odisha and neighbouring states. While the institute has already been conducting kidney and bone marrow transplants, the addition of a dedicated liver transplant programme represents a major milestone in the region’s public healthcare capacity.
The new facility is set to benefit patients from Odisha as well as West Bengal, Assam and other eastern and northeastern states, reducing the need for long-distance travel for complex procedures. The initiative is also aimed at ensuring that economically weaker patients can access transplantation and structured follow-up care within the public health system.
AIIMS Bhubaneswar has established a state-of-the-art liver transplant operation theatre, a 10-bedded advanced Liver Transplant Intensive Care Unit, and a dedicated specialty clinic to ensure comprehensive post-transplant monitoring and continuity of care. Two liver transplants have already been successfully performed at the institute, with both recipients reportedly recovering well. The donors were felicitated during the event.
In addition to the transplant services, the commissioning of a comprehensive robotic surgery programme positions AIIMS Bhubaneswar as the first government medical institution in Odisha to operationalise such a platform. The robotic system is designed to deliver minimally invasive, technology-driven surgical care within the public sector.
The programme will initially cover Urology, General Surgery, Gynaecology and Paediatric Surgery. Robotic-assisted procedures are expected to enhance surgical precision, reduce blood loss, shorten hospital stays and support faster recovery.
The developments reflect a broader push to integrate advanced medical technologies into public healthcare institutions and expand access to high-end surgical and transplant services in the region.
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