Rs 525-crore project; affordable treatment: Why is Kerala govt building organ transplant institute?

Kozhikode, Kerala: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday voiced concern over the high costs of organ transplantation in private hospitals and announced the establishment of a state-run facility to make such treatments affordable for ordinary citizens.

The announcement came as Vijayan laid the foundation stone for the Kerala Institute of Organ and Tissue Transplant (KIOTT) at Chevayoor in Kozhikode district.

Private hospital costs remain prohibitive

“The different private hospitals charge varying amounts for the same treatment, making it unaffordable for ordinary people,” Vijayan said.

Noting that nearly 90 per cent of organ transplant surgeries in India currently take place in the private sector, he said the high treatment costs exclude common citizens from accessing these life-saving procedures.

KIOTT to provide world-class treatment at reduced costs

Vijayan said the proposed KIOTT will be a “world-class public-sector facility” providing organ transplant surgeries at roughly one-third of the cost charged by private hospitals.

The institute, he added, is the first comprehensive organ transplant centre in the public sector in India and is being designed with facilities comparable to similar centres in the US and China.

“This is a matter of pride for Kerala. Complex organ transplant surgeries, including kidney, liver, heart, lung and cornea transplants, will be available under one roof,” Vijayan said.

Timely completion and financial details

The Rs 525-crore project will be implemented with financial assistance from the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), with Rs 99 crore earmarked exclusively for advanced medical equipment.

Vijayan assured that construction of the institute will be completed in a time-bound manner, underlining the government’s commitment to accessible, high-quality healthcare.

KIOTT to serve as a centre for research and training

In a social media post on Friday, the chief minister highlighted that KIOTT will also serve as an international-standard centre for advanced research in organ transplantation and for training medical professionals, further strengthening Kerala’s health sector initiatives.