Agartala, Tripura: In a significant stride for advanced healthcare in the state, Agartala Government Medical College (AGMC) and GBP Hospital successfully performed its third kidney transplant on June 30. This complex procedure, involving a non-related donor and a recipient with high antibody levels, was carried out entirely free of cost, highlighting Tripura’s robust commitment to public healthcare.
The patient, who had been on dialysis with dangerously high creatinine levels of 9-10 mg/dL, is now stable, with creatinine levels between 0.74 and 0.8 mg/dL, and no longer requires dialysis. The state government is also providing all necessary immunosuppressive medicines free of charge, ensuring comprehensive post-operative care. This latest success follows two equally successful kidney transplants conducted in June and November 2024. All three procedures were deftly handled by the dedicated Nephrology and Urology departments of the hospital, which are part of the nine super-specialty services introduced since 2018 at AGMC and GBP Hospital.
Dr. Sankar Chakraborty, Medical Superintendent of GBP Hospital, emphasised the hospital’s long-standing service to not just the people of Tripura but also those from neighbouring states and countries. He noted that the first kidney transplant in June 2024 was a collaborative effort with Shija Hospital, Manipur, under an existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), and their guidance proved invaluable. Dr. Chakraborty further revealed that the hospital is preparing for another 8-10 kidney transplants around August 2025. While currently focusing on living donors, the hospital is actively collaborating with the MOHAN Foundation to facilitate deceased donor transplants, which will significantly benefit patients who are unable to find living donors.
Dr. Kanak Choudhary, Deputy Medical Superintendent of GBP Hospital, lauded the achievement, stating that having three successful transplants within a span of one to one and a half years is excellent news for the state. He highlighted the immense benefit for Tripura residents who previously had to travel outside the state for such critical procedures. Dr. Manas Gope, part of the transplant team, elaborated on the complexities of this latest surgery, particularly due to the non-related donor and the recipient’s high antibody levels, praising the role of advanced technology in its success. He reiterated that for kidney patients undergoing dialysis, transplantation remains the best long-term option, and the fact that these procedures are performed completely free of cost at AGMC under the Tripura Government’s healthcare programme is a huge boon.
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