Historic Achievement in Assam’s Government Healthcare Sector: First Successful Liver Transplant at Guwahati Medical College and Hospital
By Dalim Phukan
Guwahati/Assam, Oct 25 : In a historic achievement for Assam’s government healthcare sector, a liver transplant has been successfully performed for the first time at Guwahati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH). The landmark accomplishment marks a significant milestone in the state’s healthcare system. Assam Health and Family Welfare Minister Ashok Singhal announced the achievement at a press conference today.
According to the minister, the complex surgical procedure, which lasted approximately 16 hours, involved transplanting a portion of a woman’s liver into her brother’s body. The 48-year-old patient, a resident of Beharbari in Kamrup Metropolitan district, received a portion of his liver from his 40-year-old sister. The successful completion of such a complex operation at a government medical institution has opened up new possibilities for advanced healthcare services in Assam.
The surgery was performed by a team of specialists from GMCH’s Liver Transplantation and Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery Department under the leadership of Dr Senthil Kumar. Specialists from the departments of cardiothoracic and vascular surgery, anaesthesiology, and interventional radiology also contributed to the complex medical procedure. The coordinated efforts of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals made this achievement possible.
Liver transplantation is a highly complex medical procedure that requires specialised surgical expertise, advanced medical equipment, meticulous planning and close coordination among multiple departments. The successful operation at GMCH demonstrates the growing capacity of the state’s government medical institutions to provide advanced healthcare services.
Both the liver donor and the recipient are currently being kept in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The medical team is continuously monitoring their health conditions. Further treatment and recovery measures will be undertaken based on their medical progress.
It may be recalled that the Chief Minister of Assam launched the liver transplantation programme at GMCH in 2025. The programme is currently being carried forward under the leadership of Health Minister Ashok Singhal, with guidance and support from the Commissioner and Secretary of the Medical Education and Research Department.
The successful completion of the first liver transplant at GMCH marks the beginning of a new chapter in Assam’s healthcare sector. The achievement is expected to strengthen the availability of advanced medical treatment within the state for patients suffering from complex diseases. It also holds out the prospect of providing greater convenience in the future to patients and their families who otherwise have to travel outside Assam to access such specialised treatment.
This landmark success has opened new horizons for expanding advanced medical services in government healthcare institutions across the state. At the same time, it is expected to give fresh momentum to the Assam government’s efforts to ensure that people can access advanced and life-saving medical treatment within their own state.
