The Health Department will launch a permanent air ambulance service, Health Minister V.S. Sivakumar has said.
Mr. Sivakumar said in a release here on Saturday that discussions for launching the service were progressing under the behest of Mrutha Sanjeevani. The service will be launched in coordination with the Home and Revenue Departments and the cooperation of the Disaster Management Authority. The services will operate mainly from Government Medical Colleges and private hospitals which have organ transplanting facilities. The Health Secretary has been designated to expedite the process.
The success of Friday’s heart transplant surgery is a recognition of the Mrithasanjeevani project. This was the 15{+t}{+h}heart transplant surgery conducted under the aegis of the project, he said.
He condoled the death of Neelakanta Sharma whose heart was donated and congratulated his family members who took the timely decision which led to the creation of a new history. He also congratulated cardiothoracic surgeon Jose Chacko Periappuram who conducted the surgery, anaesthesiologist Jacob, the doctors of Sri Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical Sciences and Technology Mathew Abraham and Easwar, Mrithasanjeevani project nodal officer Noble Gracious who coordinated the entire mission, transplant coordinators A.V. Aneesh and Saranya, Navy officers, District Collectors, Revenue officers and members of the police who were part of the mission.
Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) general secretary Thampanoor Ravi offered floral tributes on the mortal remains of Neelakanta Sharma on behalf of KPCC president V.M. Sudheeran in the presence of Mr. Sivakumar and DCC president Karakulam Krishna Pillai and other leaders.
