Tamil Nadu pioneer in organ transplants, other states should follow it: Vice President

Chennai: Observing that Tamil Nadu was a pioneering state in organ transplantation in the country, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said other states should emulate it in providing affording medical care to the people.

Speaking at a function got up to felicitiate renowned transplant surgeon Dr Mohammed Rela of Gleneagles Global Health City for performing 1,000 liver transplants in a span of seven years in the state, he said 'there is a big transformation happening in the country. Once upon a time, we had to go to London for undergoing liver transplantation.'

'Now, people from all around the world are coming to Chennai,', he added.

Lauding the Tamil Nadu government for performing free surgeries at Stanley Medical College, the Vice President said 'Tamil Nadu is now a pioneer in organ transplantation in the country.'

Pointing out that It has the biggest pediatric liver transplantation programme in the world, Mr Venkaiah Naidu said the transplants done here were one fourth of the cost of what was done abroad and the State government

along with the efforts of people like Dr Rela were the reason behind this.

'Other States must follow Tamilnadu’s lead in providing affordable medical care', he said.