Indore (Madhya Pradesh): In just nine years since performing its first hand transplant in 2015, India has emerged as a global leader followed by United States of America, and United Kingdom.
According to a report published by Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery, by September 2024, plastic surgeons of the country had successfully completed 73 upper extremity transplants, surpassing all other countries in this specialized medical domain.
“It is a matter of pride for us. India has also achieved a world record in double hand transplants, performing 33 procedures, reflecting country’s efficiency and growing expertise in the field,” Dr Dinesh Kadam, Prof and Head,Department of Plastic Surgery, AJIMS, Mangalore and Editor of Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery, told Free Press.
He added that although India was the 15th country to perform a hand transplant, its rapid progress and sustained momentum have set it apart. “In 2015, Amrita Hospital in Kochi performed the historic first double hand transplant in the Indian subcontinentunder the leadership of DrSubramaniaIyer and Dr Mohit Sharma. Now, nine centres are leading the country with hand transplantation,” Dr Kadam said adding “There is no registry of hand transplant across the globe and he is preparing one through personal communication.”
Meanwhile, Dr Anil Kumar, Director, National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO), said that India is one of the leading nations in hand transplant and they have started preparing a registry for the same.
“We are taking all the steps to boost organ donation and transplantation across the country and preparing SOPs for easing the task,’ Dr Kumar told Free Press.
Indore too emerges as leading centre
Dr Sanjay Dixit, founder secretary of Indore Society for Organ Donation, said that Indore is also emerging as a leading centre for donation and transplants. “Recently, a 68-year-old brain dead man’s hands were retrieved and airlifted to Mumbai on December 30 for transplantation. Indore has also seen highest number of cadevar donations as well.”
Highlights of India’s feat
1. India leads the world with 73 hand transplants as of September 2024.
2. India holds the record with 33 successful double hand transplants.
3. Achieved global leadership within just nine years of starting in 2015.
4. JIPMER, Pondicherry, became the second institution to perform hand transplants and the first government institution to offer hand transplant services. It also the first to conduct cross-gender transplants from female to male.
5. Aremarkablefeat under Dr NileshSatbhai has seen Mumbai performing over 22 upper extremities in a short span of a few years from 2020.
India over takes USA, UK on third spot
As per the data collected by DrDinesh Kadam, India has performed over 73 hand transplants successfully at nine centers followed by USA with 55 hand transplants and UK with 17 transplants.
These nine centers leading hand transplants in India
Dr Anil Kumar | Tarun Tiwari
“India is one of the leading nations in hand transplant with over 73 successful transplants, so far. We
have started preparing registry for hand transplant as well. Number of organ donations and
transplants are swiftly increasing in the country.”
Dr Anil Kumar
Director, NOTTO
Dr Dinesh Kadam
|
“It is a matter of pride for the nation. We are leading the world in hand transplant amid many challenges. Union and states must take initiatives to boost organ donation and transplantation for saving lives.”
Dr Dinesh Kadam
Prof and Head,
Department of Plastic Surgery, AJIMS, Mangalore
Dr Sanjay Dixit
|
“India is leading the world and Indore too added to the streak. Indore sees highest number of organ donations in Central India.”
Dr Sanjay Dixit
Founder secretary, Indore Society for Organ Donation
