Repairs begin on closed kidney transplant theatres at PGIMER in Chandigarh

Work has started to repair three kidney transplant operation theatres at PGIMER, which have been closed since 2022 due to air-conditioning failures. The renovation is expected to take 11 months. During the closure, kidney transplants continued in two liver transplant theatres, leading to longer waiting times for living donor transplants, now averaging four months. A public interest litigation has been filed for a functional theatre. PGIMER remains the main center for organ transplants in Chandigarh and surrounding states. Kidney transplant surgeries have increased significantly, with 325 performed in 2023. The urology department has also begun assisting with surgeries.