Focus on prevention as lifestyle-related illnesses drive organ failure, doctors told

N. Gopalakrishnan, Member Secretary of the Transplant Authority of Tamil Nadu (TRANSTAN), said on Saturday that doctors must increasingly focus on preventing organ failure, as lifestyle factors and habits continue to contribute to a growing number of cases.
He was speaking in Coimbatore at the inaugural session of the national liver transplant conference and advanced medical training, organised jointly by GEM Hospital and the Liver Transplant Society of India (LTSI).
Addressing the gap between demand and supply in organ transplantation, he said Tamil Nadu was the first State to provide financial assistance of up to ₹22 lakh for any transplant procedure under the Chief Minister's Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme.
Tamil Nadu was also the first State to start liver transplant services at Stanley Government Medical College Hospital. It streamlined organ allocation systems and clarified medico-legal procedures related to organ donation from brain-dead donors. The State has undertaken several combined transplants, including pancreas and kidney, liver and kidney, and heart and lung.
Thirteen government medical colleges and hospitals, and 27 government NTORC hospitals, contribute significantly to transplantation efforts in the State, he said. 'Almost all States, and even the Union Government, have replicated Tamil Nadu's government orders on transplantation,' Mr. Gopalakrishnan added.
The three-day conference will feature sessions on robotic and laparoscopic surgical techniques for liver transplantation. It will also offer evidence-based discussions for medical professionals and postgraduate students pursuing specialisation in transplant medicine.
A key highlight is a full-day 'Liver ICU Training' programme for intensive care nurses. The session focuses on patient preparation, post-operative care protocols, and post-surgical monitoring techniques.
This is the first large-scale educational initiative of its kind for nursing professionals at a national medical conference, the organisers said.
Other sessions will cover advancements in transplant anaesthesia, organ donation protocols for ICU staff, and long-term patient care strategies to improve clinical outcomes.

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