Gangtok, March 7: The Government of Sikkim is working towards conducting the state’s first kidney transplant on August 15, 2026, coinciding with Independence Day (India), Health Secretary Tshewang Gyachho informed.
Addressing a gathering at Sir Thutob Namgyal Memorial Hospital (STNM Hospital), the Health Secretary said that necessary examinations and preparations are currently underway for patients who require kidney transplants. He added that the proposal to carry out the first transplant on the national occasion is being actively pursued, with required procedures and planning already in progress.
To strengthen the programme, the Government of Sikkim has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Rabindranath Tagore International Institute of Cardiac Sciences. As part of this collaboration, the first batch of doctors and technical staff from Sikkim has already completed specialised training at the Kolkata-based hospital.
Officials stated that the initiative marks a major step towards introducing advanced healthcare services in the state and reducing the need for patients to travel outside Sikkim for critical medical procedures.
