ARABIAN TIMES NEWS NETWORK
At the 38th Foundation Day celebration of the Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery (CVTS) Department at Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGI), a major announcement took center stage, SGPGI is set to begin heart transplants in the near future. Speaking at a press conference on July 26, Prof. S.K. Agarwal, Head of the CVTS Department, shared this milestone development along with several advancements in cardiac care that have made SGPGI a national leader in critical heart surgeries.
Dr. Agarwal while addressing the journalists said “our preparations for starting heart transplants is nearly complete,”, and the CVTS department is fully equipped for it. The only challenge remains the availability of suitable donors within Uttar Pradesh. Explaining the logistics, Dr. Agarwal revealed that due to the lack of appropriate heart donors in the state, the organ for transplant would be sourced from other states.
“While kidney and liver transplants can be conducted using living donors, a heart transplant requires a brain-dead or cadaveric donor, which makes the process more delicate and dependent on infrastructure and coordination.” A key highlight of the press conference was the reduction in heart attack mortality rate at SGPGI from 10% to just 2%. This has been achieved due to improved surgical techniques, critical care, and early intervention,” Dr. Agarwal noted with pride.
We now see patients coming in from across the country for treatment. One of the game-changing developments, according to him, has been the introduction of robotic surgery. Robotic systems have made surgeries not only safer and less invasive but also more precise. Patients recover faster, and surgeons get a clearer view and control over the procedure, he said, demonstrating how robotic consoles have improved surgical outcomes.
He also emphasized the growing role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in surgery. If we treat AI as a helping tool, it can guide young doctors through every fine detail of complex procedures, improving accuracy and outcomes. Another important aspect addressed was the affordability of treatment. “Heart surgery has always been associated with high costs,” Dr. Agarwal said, “but thanks to Ayushman Bharat, even economically weaker patients can now undergo surgeries that were once beyond their reach.”
He further revealed that SGPGI’s heart transplant procedure will cost between ₹5 to ₹10 lakhs, significantly lower than in many other institutes. This step will bring new hope to heart patients across Uttar Pradesh,” he said. SGPGI is not only celebrating a legacy of 38 years but also stepping into a future where cutting-edge technology, compassionate care, and affordability converge to redefine cardiac healthcare in India.
