Postal stamp released in recognition of first successful liver transplant

Apollo Hospitals Stamped its Indelible Feat of Medical Excellence

New Delhi, October 4: Apollo Hospitals today stamped its feat of doing first successful liver transplant in India 15 years ago. It etched its indelible name in the field of medical excellence and got into ‘hall of postal fame’. Ravi Shankar Prasad, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, and Minister of Law and Justice released a commemorative stamp as recognition of Apollo Hospitals’ rare achievement.

Apollo Hospitals’ this feat had happened after a number of failed attempts elsewhere. This hospital group never looked back after that in liver transplant. The hospital chain is looking for a party at the completion of 2 thousandth liver transplants very soon.

The boy Sanjay Kandaswamy, who was the recipient of first liver transplant in India, was toast of the function held in hotel Lalit today. Sanjay was then a 2 year old boy. He received liver on 15 November 1998 with his father being the donor.  Sanjay is today 17 years old and studies in Class XI at Village Palayaseevaram, Kancheepuram. He said to meditoall that he wanted to be a doctor.

His successful surgery marked a pivotal shift in the field of liver transplantation in India. Over 900 liver transplants are now performed in India annually. Marking the release of the stamp, Ravi Shankar Prasad said, ‘stamp is released to underline extraordinary recognition.’ Calling the feat a heroic achievement, he said, ‘I congratulate the Apollo Hospitals Team on this momentous occasion. India today is at the forefront of healthcare delivery that rivals the best in the world. India has now emerged a global healthcare destination. The success of the transplant program is one such stellar example of the quality of our doctors and the innovations they have brought in this field.

Batting for poor patients, he said, ‘digital health can go a long way to provide quality treatment and healthcare services to poor people which is an avowed aim PM Narendra Modi.

 Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Prathap C. Reddy, Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group said, ‘Within the span of these 15 years approximately 4500 Liver Transplants have been performed in India. The Apollo Transplant Program remained the busiest program in the world in 2013 (for the second consecutive year), by performing 1456 transplants (390 liver, 1066 kidney) and Apollo Delhi the busiest centre with 952 transplants (283 liver, 669 kidney). This remarkable foray into organ transplantation has made India a global leader in the field by providing access to high quality and affordable transplant program. Today, we have innovated in the field of transplantation to provide access to a larger number of people in need liver transplantation. Patients of 121 countries have received treatment at Apollo Hospitals.”

 Prof. Anupam Sibal, Group Medical Director, Apollo Hospitals Group and Senior Paediatric Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist at Apollo Hospitals Delhi said, “Today is a special day for all of us. The journey that we started in 1998 has today culminated in hundreds of lives being saved. Sanjay now leads a completely normal life, goes to school like other kids, enjoys meals, plays football, and wants to become a doctor to save lives. Sanjay’s story is incredibly inspirational, one that in many ways changed the paradigm for transplantation in India. In the last 24 months, 690 liver transplants have been performed with a success rate of 90%.  More than 1850 liver transplants have been performed. Our program has provided hope to hundreds of patients from countries with outcomes comparable to the oldest centers in the world at 1/10^th the cost. We are thankful to the Government of India for bestowing this honor to us and this is a major recognition for the countless surgeons, physicians, nurses and allied health staff that has made India the global leader in transplantation today.’