The Art of ‘Lovingly Not Leaving’: How Apollo Hospitals is strengthening its transplant infrastructure

Bengaluru: In a landmark boost to Karnataka’s advanced transplant care, Apollo Hospitals recently inaugurated its dedicated Heart and Lung Transplantation and Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS) Unit at Seshadripuram.

The launch marks Apollo’s first fully integrated heart and lung transplant programme in the state, significantly enhancing access to complex cardiothoracic care for patients across Karnataka and neighbouring regions.

The event was graced by Dr J Ravishankar, Managing Director, Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL), who played a pivotal role in the recent heart transplant where Namma Metro enabled the swift, time-critical transport of a donor heart — an effort widely recognised as a breakthrough in urban emergency medical response.

A major milestone for Karnataka’s transplant landscape

With Karnataka emerging as one of India’s most active contributors to the organ donation pool, the new Apollo programme aims to meet rising demand for advanced, protocol-driven cardiac and respiratory interventions.

The centre is equipped with transplant-ready ICUs, specialised OTs, advanced monitoring systems, ECMO and MCS support, and dedicated rehabilitation pathways — creating a seamless ecosystem from evaluation to long-term follow-up.

Speaking at the launch, Dr Ravishankar said: “We are proud that Namma Metro played a vital role in the timely transport of a donor heart in this landmark initiative. It shows how public infrastructure can directly support life-saving healthcare. In a rapidly growing city like Bengaluru, urban mobility is becoming essential to time-sensitive emergency care. Apollo’s new programme strengthens the city’s capacity to save lives, and BMRCL is committed to supporting such advancements where every second counts.”

A clinically integrated, multidisciplinary programme

The new unit will offer patients the full spectrum of advanced therapies, including heart, lung, and combined heart–lung transplantation, select multi-organ transplants, temporary and durable mechanical circulatory support, and round-the-clock expert retrieval services for critically ill patients across the region.

Dr Kumud Kumar Dhital, Programme and Surgical Director – Heart and Lung Transplantation and MCS, said: “Over the past two years, our teams in Chennai and Bengaluru have built a robust, clinically strong transplant service. With this formal launch, we can now deliver seamlessly integrated care for end-stage heart and lung disease backed by the multidisciplinary expertise needed for consistently safe and successful outcomes.”

Highlighting the importance of continuity in lung care, Dr Srinivas Rajagopala, Lead, Lung Failure and Transplant Pulmonologist, noted: “Successful lung transplantation depends not only on surgical excellence but on meticulous, sustained pre- and post-transplant care. This programme elevates our ability to deliver comprehensive, protocol-driven support using advanced monitoring systems.”

Patient stories underscore life-saving impact

Patients who have benefitted from Apollo’s transplant services shared emotional testimonies, thanking donor families and medical teams for giving them a second chance at life.

The recipient of the recent heart transplant — whose donor heart arrived at Apollo through the Namma Metro corridor — said the experience proved how ‘the right infrastructure and the right medical expertise can come together at the most critical moment to save a life that might otherwise have been lost.’