CHANDIGARH/SAS Nagar (MOHALI): Punjab has achieved a significant feat in advanced public healthcare with three successful liver transplant surgeries performed within a single week at the Punjab Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (PILBS), Mohali. The achievement marks a major step forward in the State’s efforts to build advanced transplant capabilities within its government healthcare institutions.
Addressing the media at PILBS, Health and Family Welfare, Medical Education and Research and Higher Education Minister Dr. Balbir Singh said, “The successful completion of three liver transplants in one week was a matter of immense pride for Punjab and reflected the commitment of the CM Bhagwant Mann Government to making high-end super-speciality healthcare accessible to the people through government institutions.”
The three recent transplant cases also carried deeply emotional stories of family bonding and sacrifice. A wife donated a part of her liver to her husband, a mother donated to her daughter, while a son donated to his father. “These cases are not only stories of medical success but also of love, sacrifice and family bonding. A wife donated to her husband, a mother to her daughter and a son to his father. Such acts of selflessness give new hope and a new lease of life to patients suffering from serious liver ailments,” said the Minister.
With these three latest procedures, PILBS Mohali has now successfully performed a total of five liver transplants, marking a significant achievement for Punjab’s public healthcare system.
PILBS To Act As Hub For Liver Transplant Services
The Health Minister announced that the State Government was working on a comprehensive model to expand liver transplant services across Punjab. “We are working on a hub-and-spoke model for liver transplant services across Punjab. PILBS Mohali will function as the principal hub, while the Government Medical Colleges will serve as spokes for patient identification, evaluation, referral and post-transplant care closer to their respective regions,” he added.
He said the State Government was also strengthening organ transplant and related infrastructure across its government medical institutions, with all four Government Medical Colleges being developed to support the organ transplantation ecosystem. “We are strengthening the organ transplant ecosystem across our government medical institutions. All four Government Medical Colleges are being developed to support these services so that patients can receive timely and specialised care closer to home,” said the Health Minister.
Renal Transplant Services To Begin Soon
Minister Dr. Balbir Singh further announced that renal transplant services would be launched at Mohali and Patiala in the coming days, expanding the availability of advanced transplant care within Punjab’s government healthcare system. “Renal transplant services will also begin soon at Mohali and Patiala. This will further expand the availability of advanced transplant care within Punjab’s government healthcare system,” he added.
The Minister applauded the dedicated team led by PILBS Director Dr. Virendra Singh for its professional commitment and concerted efforts in successfully undertaking these specialised surgeries at PILBS, Mohali. “I congratulate Director PILBS Dr. Virendra Singh and the entire team for their dedication, professionalism and coordinated efforts. These achievements show that Punjab’s government hospitals and institutes are steadily developing the expertise and infrastructure needed to undertake complex medical procedures of the highest order,” he added.
Growing Patient Services At PILBS
Giving details of the institute’s expanding services, Dr. Balbir Singh said 239 FibroScans were conducted at nominal charges during August, besides treatment and care being provided to 139 indoor patients. He said, “The addition of 170 beds will further strengthen PILBS and enable it to provide specialised liver and biliary care to a larger number of patients. We will continue to strengthen infrastructure, manpower, equipment and specialised services at our government hospitals and institutes so that quality healthcare reaches every section of society.”
Minister Dr. Balbir Singh said the State Government would continue to strengthen the public healthcare system and build specialised medical capabilities within government institutions, with a focus on ensuring that patients in Punjab have access to advanced treatment without having to depend on facilities outside the State.
