Patna: A high-level panel comprising Dr V. Seenu from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)-New Delhi, Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) director Dr N.R. Biswas and Bihar Medical Services and Infrastructure Corporation Limited (BMSICL) constituted by the state health department visited Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) on Thursday to check infrastructure of the hospital for starting a kidney transplant facility.

The team led by Dr Seenu gave the plan its go-ahead.

Dr Seenu had played an important role in starting kidney transplants at IGIMS, as he was in the three-member committee formed by the health department to access IGIMS' infrastructure for starting the facility. Seenu not only made several visits to be sure IGIMS was ready for starting the facility, but he and the AIIMS-New Delhi team assisted IGIMS doctors with the first few kidney transplants. The state health department envisages similar plans to start kidney transplants at PMCH.

Dr Ashok Kumar Singh, who heads the kidney transplant unit at PMCH, told The Telegraph that the team led by Dr Seenu, along with the PMCH administration, suggested starting of a kidney transplant unit in the hospital's emergency building.

"We've decided to start the unit in the emergency building and later shift it to the upcoming kidney transplant unit building," said Dr Ashok. "Costing Rs 12.66 crore, the building is set for completion in the next nine months. That would be too late. We've decided to carry out certain modifications in the existing ICU on the first floor of the emergency building. A three-bed ICU will be created there with two operation theatres (OTs) for starting kidney transplant units. Of the two OTs, one will be used for donor-related surgery and another for recipient-related surgery. On Thursday, instructions were issued to BMSICL officials to carry out necessary modifications within the next two months so that we can start the transplant unit."

Dr Ashok also said PMCH was soon going to seek permission from the health department to conduct walk-in interviews to recruit doctors for the kidney transplant unit. "As soon as we get permission from the department, we can conduct interviews. Initially, the unit will start with a few nephrologists and transplant surgeons. At a later phase, more recruitments will take place in the unit," he added.