AIIMS Urology Department Marks One Year Of Independent Renal Transplants, Easing Wait For Patients

There’s good news for kidney patients waiting for a transplant at the country’s premier health institution, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi.

In what signals that the prolonged wait for transplant surgery may finally be easing, the Department of Urology at the AIIMS, Delhi, has completed one year of independently performing renal transplants — a milestone that has bolstered the institute’s overall transplant strength. It is being viewed as a significant advance for kidney care in the country.

In just 12 months, the department has carried out 21 renal transplants, leading to nearly a 40% increase in AIIMS’ total transplant volume. The anniversary was marked by a special event recognising the team’s dedication and the widening of its clinical mandate.

“We launched this initiative a year ago, and the progress has been extremely promising,” said Prof. Amlesh Seth, Head of the Department of Urology. “With Urology now taking a lead role in renal transplantation, we are expanding the system’s capacity to save more lives.”

Prof. Seth said this growth is vital for patients with end-stage kidney disease. “Our enhanced capacity will help reduce the long waiting list for renal transplants,” he said.

Senior faculty members across specialties also welcomed the achievement.

“The success of this first year reflects outstanding teamwork and clinical excellence,” said Dr. Rajiv Kumar from the Urology Department, noting that this comes at a time when the country is seeing a rise in kidney diseases requiring transplants. “Their efforts have significantly strengthened AIIMS’ transplant programme.”

Dr. Rakesh Yadav from the Department of Nephrology added,

“This expansion has been transformative. By increasing transplant numbers, we are giving hope to more families and improving long-term outcomes.”

Dr. Seth said the Urology Department currently has 44 beds, including five dedicated to transplant patients, and nine faculty members — with additional recruitment planned as work expands. It operates four operation theatres six days a week and also conducts procedures at the National Centre for Aging and the National Cancer Institute. The team performs nearly 30 surgeries every week, reflecting its growing proficiency.

Explaining the programme’s evolution, Dr. Seth noted that global transplant needs are rising and that AIIMS has long had strong foundational training. Senior faculty members, including Prof. Wadhwa, trained abroad, and the department earlier assisted in transplant procedures in collaboration with other teams.

“Over the past year, however, the Urology Department has established full in-house expertise and formally set up its own renal transplant service. This expansion was supported by the institute’s infrastructural growth — a new surgical block, more operation theatres, and a two-and-a-half-fold rise in OT capacity for the department,” he said.

With greater OT availability, the department has been able to scale up transplant operations.

Renal transplantation, faculty members stressed, is inherently multidisciplinary. Experts from Urology, Nephrology, Anaesthesiology, Pathology, Radiology, Critical Care and Immunology work in close coordination at every step, Dr. Seth said.

Earlier, AIIMS Director Dr. M Srinivas also congratulated the Urology Department team for the achievement, noting that their work has significantly reinforced the institute’s transplant capabilities.

Among those present at the event also included Dr. Rishi Nayyar and Dr Sanjay Kumar from Urology, Dr. Uma (Immunology), Dr. VK Bansal (General Surgery), and former Heads of the AIIMS' Urology Department, Dr. NP Gupta and Dr. PN Dogra.