CHANDIGARH, 30.05.25-PGIMER Chandigarh marked a significant milestone today with the successful completion of its liver transplant license renewal inspection under the Transplantation of Human Organs Act (THOA). The inspection was conducted by an expert committee constituted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW), Government of India.

Prof. Vivek Lal, Director PGIMER, expressed his satisfaction as he stated, “Completing this inspection successfully reflects PGIMER’s unwavering dedication to clinical excellence, ethical organ donation, and compassionate patient care. Our team’s relentless pursuit of quality and innovation continues to establish PGIMER as a trusted center for life-saving transplants in the region.”

Director PGIMER added, “Every organ donation is a gift of life. Through collective effort, compassion, and dedication, PGIMER is committed to saving lives and building a premier transplant ecosystem to serve a broad patient base across North India.”

The inspection committee, chaired by Dr. Pranjal Modi, Professor & Head of Liver Transplantation at IKDRC Ahmedabad, acknowledged PGIMER’s robust infrastructure, multidisciplinary approach, and adherence to quality protocols as Dr. Pranjal Modi remarked, “The capabilities and standards at PGIMER are exemplary. It is encouraging to see such a high level of care being delivered consistently in a public sector institution.”

Other members of the inspection committee, including Col. Priyank Dhiman, Department of Gastroenterology, AHRR, Delhi and Dr. Amarjeet Kaur (Senior Regional Director, ROHFW Chandigarh, praised PGIMER’s state-of-the-art facilities and comprehensive transplant ecosystem.

The inspection proceedings were moderated by Prof. Lileswar Kaman, Head of the Department of General Surgery, and Prof. T.D. Yadav, with the program being formally presented by Dr. Swapnesh Kumar Sahu, Assistant Professor, General Surgery. The detailed presentation highlighted PGIMER’s state-of-the-art surgical infrastructure, intensive care capabilities, infection control protocols, and collaborative organ transplant ecosystem.

From the Department of General Surgery, Prof. Kaman, Dr. Ajay Savlania, Dr. Cherring Tandup, Dr. Swapnesh, and from Department of GI HPB and Liver transplant was represented by Prof. T.D. Yadav and Dr. Harjeet Singh as the core transplant surgical team. The, while Dr. Nipun Bawane, Dr. Arka Dey, and Dr. Naveen Bhagat attended from the Department of Hepatology. Anesthesiology support was detailed by Prof. Sameer Sethi, showcasing coordinated perioperative care.

PGIMER’s Liver Transplant Unit has steadily grown into a regional hub of excellence, performing over 120 transplants to date. Between 2020 and 2025 alone, the institute has conducted 36 liver transplants, including 3 living donor liver transplants (LDLTs) and 1 combined liver-kidney transplant. Pediatric transplants make up around 11% of the total, underscoring the unit’s capacity for high-risk and diverse case management.