AIIMS Bhubaneswar launches liver transplant,advanced robotic surgery

In a major step forward for healthcare in Odisha and Eastern India, AIIMS Bhubaneswar has launched a comprehensive Liver Transplant Programme alongside a state-of-the-art Advanced Surgical Robotic System. The facilities were virtually inaugurated by Union Health Minister J P Nadda , who said the move will strengthen the region’s healthcare infrastructure and provide access to life-saving, world-class treatments.

Congratulating the institute’s medical and administrative teams, Nadda noted that while AIIMS Bhubaneswar has already been performing successful kidney and bone marrow transplants , the commencement of the liver transplant programme marks a significant milestone in expanding advanced tertiary care. The facility is expected to benefit patients from Odisha as well as neighbouring states such as West Bengal and Assam, reducing the need for travel to distant metropolitan hospitals.

The institute has set up a dedicated liver transplant operation theatre , a specialised intensive care unit, and a structured post-transplant follow-up system. Initially, the programme will gradually scale up, aiming to perform dozens of liver transplants annually as donor availability and clinical capacity increase. Nadda emphasised that economically disadvantaged patients will be able to undergo transplantation at highly subsidised costs, with coverage under government health schemes, ensuring comprehensive care without financial hardship.

Highlighting the national priority of organ donation, the minister said the launch aligns with the Prime Minister’s call to make organ donation a mass movement. AIIMS Bhubaneswar will strengthen donor support systems, including counselling and coordination with national organ allocation networks for living and deceased donors.

The institute has also invested in training specialist surgeons, anaesthetists, and nursing staff in advanced hepatobiliary, transplant, and robotic surgery . Patient selection will follow nationally prescribed protocols, ensuring equity and transparency. With success rates comparable to global standards, the programme, coupled with robotic-assisted surgery, promises enhanced precision, shorter recovery times, and expanded minimally invasive options. AIIMS Bhubaneswar plans to further expand transplant capacity, multidisciplinary care, and advanced organ transplant services, positioning itself as a major referral centre for complex care in Eastern India.