In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the Apollo Hospitals Group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with "Group of Hospitals - DMIMS, DU, one of the biggest private healthcare medical universities in Central India to bring their world-class liver transplant program to patients in central India," the hospital group said in a statement.

The MoU was signed on World Organ Donation Day which falls on August 13,

The two institutions would work to build a successful liver transplant programme that brings the best of medical expertise and the latest world-class technological advances in liver transplant care to the region, it said.

The partnership would benefit patients with complications due to end-stage chronic liver disease as also in rare cases of sudden failure of a previously healthy liver, the statement said.

Ms Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals said, "This MoU is the first-of-its-kind in central India and will change the scenario of liver transplant in the region. We will work with the Group of Hospitals - DMIMS, (DU) to bring world-class practices and create a Centre of Excellence in central India for 360-degree care in liver diseases and transplantation. This will be a boon for patients in terms of costs and convenience and they will not have to travel to other cities or states for treatment.’’

Datta Meghe, Founder and Chairman of, Group of Hospitals - DMIMS, (DU) said, "This partnership with Apollo Hospitals will enable us to serve the people of central India with best of care for liver transplants as we together build a knowledge and result oriented liver transplant programme."

The number of patients with liver disease has shown a sharp increase over the last decade. An estimated two lakh patients die of liver failure or liver cancer annually in India, about 10-15 per cent of which can be saved with a timely liver transplant, the Apollo healthcare group said in the statement.

On Friday, over 30,000 liver transplants are needed every year to save the lives of patients with end-stage liver disease, but only about 1,500 are being performed. With the MoU between the two institutions, liver transplants in central India are expected to receive a boost, said Dr Manish Varma, senior liver transplant surgeon with Apollo hospitals.

Dr Anupam Sibal, Group Medical Director, Apollo Hospitals Group, said, "Starting with India''s first successful liver transplant, performed in 1998, Apollo Hospitals pioneered liver transplantation in India and the region. The Group has performed more than 3,700 liver transplants including 405 in children."