Kochi, Dec. 22 -- In a landmark moment for India's public healthcare system, Ernakulam General Hospital is set to perform the country's first heart transplant at a government general hospital, marking a major milestone in advanced medical care in the public sector. So far, heart transplants have been the forte of private hospitals and government medical colleges.
The donor is a 47-year-old man from Kollam who was declared brain-dead following a road accident. His heart was harvested at the Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, and transported to Kochi via air ambulance under strict time protocols. The transplant surgery is scheduled to begin around noon at Ernakulam General Hospital.
The recipient is a 23-year-old woman from Nep...