Not everyone can bear the expense of a liver transplant, other than the rich. The cost of transplanting a liver without complications is Rs.7 to 10 lakhs, and the charges escalate further in case some complication crops up and then the expense can mount up to a whopping Rs.25 to 30 lakhs. And it is one of the reasons why it is not a “mass operative phenomenon”.

Health care Global Enterprises Ltd ( HCG), South Asia’s Largest cancer care network, is trying to make the facility accessible to the hoi polloi. HCG, which is bases in Bangalore, is trying to control the mortality rate of patients suffering form liver complications. “ At HCG we have decided not to refuse any patient who approaches us. Concessions will be given to deserving patients and the criteria will be decided by the management at HCG. But one criterion will be the ability to sustain the medication that will follow the surgery, because operation is just half the treatment and medication is lifelong. Although in some cases medication comes down drastically over a period of time”, said Sanjay Govil, Consultant Liver Transplant Surgeon at HCG.

Every year around 2,000 to 3,000 patients require liver transplant. But owing to lack of awareness about the available facilities, the condition of the donor, lack of infrastructure and the cost of the surgery, have been major impediments in containing the mortality rate among cases of liver disease. Only 400 to 500 patients undergo transplants annually now. “In the last six years I have done only two transplants and in the last eleven years there have been only 11 transplants. Availability of donors is a major hindrance. In case of kidney failure, dialysis is available as a survival mechanism, but in case of liver failure, the patient has no other alternative”. Informed Dr Govil at an event organized by HCG at Kenilworth Hotel last week. There are newer chemo therapies and safer re implanting techniques are also available at the centre, informed the doctor.

Obese people and alcoholics are more prone to damaging their liver, 20 to 30 per cent of the patients are alcoholics. While normal intake of alcohol is not harmful for the liver but a person with hepatitis B or C or with obesity should not consume alcohol, he warns. “ Drinking socially is also very harmful for such people. It will just accelerate the disease and liver complications. The combination of obesity and diabetes is deadly as there is 100 percent chances of developing primary level of cancer,”, said Dr. Govil

September, 9th, 2011, Bangalore: HealthCare Global Enterprises Ltd, South Asia’s largest cancer care network, launched liver transplant surgery for patients with, acute liver failure and liver cancer.

Dr. B S Ajaikumar, Chairman, HCG, said, “We are ideally suited to treat patients with primary and secondary liver cancer because, the multidisciplinary team is able to select the most appropriate treatment for each individual patient. The additional facility of liver transplantation completes the range of therapies available for this disease. However, this facility is available to all patients with decompensated liver disease for whom this treatment modality is appropriate – both benign and malignant.”

Dr. Sanjay Govil, Consultant, Liver Transplant Surgeon, HCG, said, “Liver transplantation provides a new lease of life for patients decompensated with chronic liver disease, acute liver failure, and some patients with liver cancer. These patients have an anticipated life expectancy of less than 12 to 18 months, but liver transplant has a success rate of greater than 90% which can provide an excellent quality of life for many of these patients who would otherwise have days or months to live.”

HCG Liver Transplant on News