In a major boost to tertiary healthcare services in eastern India, AIIMS Bhubaneswar has established a comprehensive Liver Transplant Programme and commissioned a state of the art Surgical Robotic System, significantly enhancing access to advanced medical care in Odisha and neighbouring states.
Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda virtually inaugurated the Liver Transplant Unit and formally launched the Advanced Robotic Surgery System at the institute. Aparajita Sarangi, Member of Parliament from Odisha, and Punya Salila Srivastava, Union Health Secretary, were present at the occasion.
Describing the development as momentous and historic, Jagat Prakash Nadda said the commissioning of the liver transplant facility and robotic surgery programme marks a proud milestone in the evolution of AIIMS Bhubaneswar as a centre of excellence in tertiary healthcare, medical research and academic advancement. He noted that these additions will significantly strengthen healthcare infrastructure in Odisha and elevate the quality of treatment available to patients across the region.
The Minister stated that while the institute has already been successfully conducting kidney and bone marrow transplants, the launch of the Liver Transplant Programme represents a major expansion of advanced clinical services. He emphasized that the facility will make world class, life saving treatment for end stage liver disease accessible to patients in Odisha and eastern India, including those from West Bengal, Assam and other neighbouring states.
Highlighting the national priority attached to organ donation, Jagat Prakash Nadda recalled the Prime Minister’s call to transform organ donation into a mass movement. He said the establishment of the liver transplant unit is fully aligned with this vision and represents a significant step in advancing the noble cause of organ donation. He underscored that economically weaker and disadvantaged patients will be able to undergo transplantation and receive structured follow up care without the burden of long distance travel or financial hardship.
The institute has set up a dedicated Liver Transplant Operation Theatre and an advanced Intensive Care Unit equipped with modern medical technology. A specialized Liver Transplant Clinic has also been established to ensure structured post transplant follow up and long term monitoring. As an encouraging beginning, two successful liver transplants have already been performed, with both patients recovering well and resuming normal lives.
Jagat Prakash Nadda commended the coordinated efforts of surgical gastroenterologists, clinicians, nurses, technicians and support staff whose dedication made the successful conduct of these complex procedures possible. He described the achievement as the result of collective perseverance and professionalism.
With the commissioning of the Surgical Robotic System, AIIMS Bhubaneswar has become the first government medical institution in Odisha to operationalize a comprehensive robotic surgery programme. The robotic platform will initially be deployed in specialties such as Urology, Gynaecology and Paediatric Surgery. The system is expected to improve surgical precision, reduce blood loss, shorten hospital stays and enable faster recovery, while minimizing the need for patients to travel outside the state for advanced procedures.
The Minister stated that the integration of robotic surgery reflects a broader vision of embedding advanced medical technologies in public healthcare systems and democratizing access to high end surgical care. He expressed confidence that the institute will continue to uphold patient centric, compassionate and quality driven healthcare delivery.
Aparajita Sarangi said AIIMS Bhubaneswar has emerged as a role model among AIIMS institutions by consistently achieving new milestones in healthcare delivery, medical education and research. She noted that the inauguration of transplant and robotic surgery facilities signals a decisive shift toward innovation driven and technology enabled public healthcare.
Punya Salila Srivastava highlighted that life saving transplant services are being provided under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana and Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi, ensuring that economically disadvantaged patients receive comprehensive transplant care without financial hardship. She noted that the current year is being observed as Angdaan Jeevan Sanjeevani Abhiyaan and expressed confidence that increased awareness will strengthen India’s organ transplant ecosystem.
Anita Saxena, President of AIIMS Bhubaneswar, Ankita Mishra Bundela, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and other senior officials were present at the event. Ashutosh Biswas, Executive Director of AIIMS Bhubaneswar, along with the institute’s medical team, joined the programme online from the campus.
