PGI adds another feather to its cap

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 30

Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan today awarded the PGIMER as ‘Best ROTTO’ (Regional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation) for its contribution towards the promotion of cadaver organ donation at an event organised to celebrate the 10th Indian Organ Donation Day by the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) in New Delhi.

Adding to the accolades, the PGI has also been awarded as the ‘Best Hospital’ in the field of deceased organ donation by the Minister.

It is the third time that the PGI has won the national award for its contribution towards the deceased organ donation programme. Earlier, it won the national award in the Best Hospital category for 2015-16 and 2016-17.

The award for being the Best ROTTO instituted this year has been won for the first time.

However, the most emotional moment of the event came when Kuldeep Singh, father, and Madan Goel, grandfather of donor Ravi Kapoor, 29, a resident of Dera Bassi, Mohali, were felicitated for their decision to donate the organs of their deceased son and got a standing ovation from the audience for their gesture. Their magnanimous gesture of organ donation of their son impacted five lives with the transplantation of liver, kidneys and corneas.

With tears brimming in his eyes, proud father of donor Ravi Kapoor said: “Despite being no more, my son is living on by helping five others continue with their lives”.

Expressing delight at the achievement, Prof Jagat Ram, Director, PGI, stated that it was an honour to be acknowledged nationally for the PGIMER’s contribution as a public sector hospital towards the promotion of the deceased organ donation programme for the third time.

“The award as Best ROTTO is a reiteration of the fact that we have been able to make a difference in the region in the field of organ donation beyond the confines of the hospital. We feel honoured as well as all more committed to carry forward the mandate at a faster pace,” said the PGI Director.

It was again a moment of elation as liver recipient from Chandigarh, PK Rattan, who underwent liver transplant in 2012, was felicitated for his accomplishments in the World Transplant Games, London, 2019.