Over 300 doctors participate from four states

Bhubaneswar: A Regional Continuing Medical Education (CME) programme on “Organ Transplantation and Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare” was successfully organised by AIIMS Bhubaneswar in collaboration with the National Academy of Medical Sciences NAMS.

The event saw participation from over 300 doctors from Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar, and Jharkhand, along with experts from premier institutions including AIIMS Patna, AIIMS Deoghar, and AIIMS Kalyani.

AI seen as key enabler in organ transplantation

Addressing the inaugural session, Subhasish Panda highlighted the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in organ transplantation.

He noted that AI can improve donor-recipient matching using genetic and clinical data, enable real-time tracking of organ availability, optimise transport logistics, and support clinical decision-making through predictive analytics.

India ranks among global leaders in transplants

Officials stated that India is the third-leading country globally in organ transplantation, with around 20,000 procedures conducted annually. However, a majority—about 82%—of donations come from living donors, with women forming a significant portion.

Concerns were also raised over affordability, as a large share of transplants takes place in the private sector, limiting access for many patients.

AIIMS Bhubaneswar plans centre of excellence

Ashutosh Biswas, Executive Director and CEO of AIIMS Bhubaneswar, announced plans to establish a regional centre of excellence focused on organ transplantation and artificial intelligence.

He emphasised the need to expand donor pools, improve institutional readiness, and align with national healthcare strategies.

Huge demand-supply gap in organ donation

Digambar Behera highlighted that India requires nearly 5 lakh organs annually, but only about 3% of the demand is currently met. Over 82,000 patients remain on active waiting lists, underscoring the urgency of improving donation rates.

Experts call for collaboration and awareness

The CME featured discussions on ethical and legal challenges, national guidelines, antimicrobial resistance, and the growing role of AI in healthcare. Experts from institutions such as IIT Bhubaneswar, PGIMER Chandigarh, NISER Bhubaneswar, OTTET, IISER Berhampur, IGIMS Patna, as well as national transplant organizations including ROTTO and SOTTO participated.

The programme concluded with a consensus on strengthening collaboration, increasing public awareness on organ donation, and leveraging AI-driven solutions to improve transplant outcomes across the country.