Shazia Shah| Kashmir Pen
Srinagar, April 26; The kidney transplant programme at SKIMS was established in 1999, making it the pioneering centre for organ transplantation in the erstwhile state. Over the years, the institute has emerged as the only authorised and leading transplant centre in J&K, providing life-saving treatment to patients suffering from end-stage renal disease.
Since its inception, the programme has shown remarkable growth. SKIMS has now surpassed 800 kidney transplants, reflecting its sustained excellence and expanding capabilities in advanced medical care.
The institute has also achieved several medical breakthroughs, including:
* Conducting J&K’s first ABO-incompatible kidney transplant, enabling transplants across mismatched blood groups.
* Performing the first-ever swap kidney transplant in the Union Territory, addressing donor shortages through paired exchanges.
* Leading transplant procedures under national health schemes like Ayushman Bharat, making costly surgeries accessible to economically weaker patients.
Over more than two decades, SKIMS has evolved into a centre of excellence in renal transplantation in North India, continuously adopting advanced surgical techniques and immunological protocols while maintaining high success rates.
The recognition of SKIMS for running the first kidney transplant programme in J&K thus highlights not only its pioneering role but also its continued contribution to strengthening tertiary healthcare and saving thousands of lives in the region |kashmir pen
