TN pioneering ahead in organ transplantation: Minister

More than 400 organs and 300 tissues had been harvested from over 130 deceased persons and transplanted in needy persons in Tamil Nadu last year, the state government informed the Assembly today.
"During 2014, a total of 136 deceased donors in the state contributed a total of 417 organs and 310 tissues to benefit recipients in need of them," Health and Family Welfare Minister C Vijayabaskar said.
The state was pioneering ahead in organ transplant, with kidneys (227) and cornea (196) being the largest donated organs last year, he said.
Between October 2008 and September 2015, a total of 693 donors had donated 3,822 organs including kindey, heart, lungs, cornea and pancreas, he added.

On the dengue situation, he said in the current year, a total of 2,335 cases with five deaths had been reported. A "major outbreak" was reported in Rajapalayam Municipality. Daily surveillance was being carried out and the "disease is now fully under control," he added.
As part of ensuring clean government hospital premises, the government would constitute a "Kayakalp Award" and will reward the cleanest hospital with Rs 50 lakh. The second prize winner will get Rs 20 lakh, he added.
To strengthen the 108 Ambulance service, a free of cost initiative, the government will procure 56 vehicles at a cost of Rs 7.84 crore, Vijayabaskar said.

He also proposed setting up of a Virus Research Lab at the King Institute in Guindy here at an estimated Rs 3.84 crore.