Groundbreaking Inter-Hospital Swap Liver Transplant Saves Two Lives in Coimbatore
Chennai: In a groundbreaking achievement for Indian healthcare, two hospitals in Coimbatore have collaboratively performed the country’s first-ever inter-hospital swap liver transplant, giving a new lease on life to two patients suffering from end-stage liver disease.
The complex procedure was successfully executed through a joint effort between GEM Hospital and Sri Ramakrishna Hospital in Coimbatore. The patients, a 59-year-old man from Salem and a 53-year-old man from Tiruppur, were both in dire need of liver transplants. Their respective wives were willing to donate, but blood group incompatibility ruled out direct donation.
A swap transplant, where the donor of each patient gives to the other, was identified as the only viable solution. The surgery was simultaneously performed at both hospitals on July 3, 2025. This approach expands the donor pool and offers new hope to patients with end-stage liver disease who would otherwise remain on long waiting lists or have no viable curative treatment option.
The inter-hospital swap liver transplant required meticulous planning, legal clearances, and unprecedented inter-institutional cooperation. The Tamil Nadu State Transplant Authority granted special clearance for the procedure, and both hospitals worked together to ensure synchronized surgeries and real-time communication.
According to Dr. C.Palanivelu, Founder & Chairman – GEM Hospitals, “This milestone opens a new avenue in liver transplantation, proving that cost-effectiveness and clinical excellence can go hand in hand.” Dr. P.Praveen Raj, Director – GEM Hospitals, emphasized the legal rigor involved in obtaining necessary permissions and clearances.
Both patients are recovering well, and this achievement is expected to pave the way for more collaborative living donor liver transplant models across hospitals and states in India.
