PATNA: Bihar has achieved a major milestone in advanced healthcare with the successful completion of the state’s first liver transplant supported by financial assistance from the state government, marking a significant step towards making life-saving treatment accessible to economically weaker patients.
The government provided financial assistance of ₹15 lakh for the procedure under an initiative led by Health Minister Nishant Kumar, who directed the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS), Patna, to make the necessary arrangements for liver transplantation and extend financial support to eligible patients.
The Health Minister said the government was committed to ensuring that no patient was deprived of life-saving treatment due to financial constraints.
The achievement was made possible through the extraordinary act of organ donation by 16-year-old Monu Kumar of Patna, who sustained critical injuries in a road accident and was declared brain-dead during treatment at IGIMS.
In a remarkable humanitarian gesture, his family agreed to donate his liver and both kidneys, helping save the lives of three patients.
A 19-year-old woman successfully underwent a liver transplant at IGIMS, while two other patients received kidney transplants, one at IGIMS and the other at AIIMS, Patna.
Following the successful procedures, the medical team from IGIMS met Health Minister Nishant Kumar and expressed gratitude for the government’s support. Discussions were also held on expanding liver transplantation and other advanced medical facilities to additional medical colleges across Bihar.
The discussions focused on strengthening healthcare infrastructure, developing institutional capabilities and ensuring the availability of specialised medical professionals.
Health Secretary Kumar Ravi appreciated the efforts of the medical teams involved in the achievement. The procedures were carried out through coordinated efforts involving the IGIMS Brain Death Committee, SOTTO Bihar, NOTTO Delhi, ROTTO Kolkata, and medical teams from IGIMS and AIIMS, Patna.
Congratulating the medical professionals, Nishant Kumar also paid tribute to Monu Kumar’s family for their courageous decision, describing organ donation as a noble act capable of giving a new lease of life to others.
The Bihar government reiterated its commitment to promoting awareness about organ donation, expanding transplant facilities and improving access to advanced medical treatment across the state.
