Overview
Narayana Health City in Bengaluru hosted a press conference on World Heart Day, September 29, bringing together more than 40 heart and lung transplant recipients and their families to celebrate the institution’s transplant programme.
Transplant Milestones
To date the centre has performed 136 heart and lung transplants, encompassing complex adult and paediatric procedures, including combined heart‑lung transplants. The programme reports that 95 % of recipients have returned to meaningful lives, with children resuming school and many patients excelling in competitive sports.
Notable Patient Stories
The longest‑surviving heart transplant recipient, Mr V. K., is now 16 years post‑operation. Mr S. S., who once faced end‑stage heart failure, won a gold medal at the World Transplant Games. Baby K., transplanted at 14 months, remains India’s youngest heart transplant recipient. Mr K. S. underwent a combined heart‑lung transplant at age 68 and continues to thrive at 75. Additional cases include Mrs A. F. M. (2022) and Miss N. N. (2025), illustrating the centre’s expertise in complex combined procedures.
Geographic Reach
Nearly half of the 136 transplant recipients have travelled from outside Karnataka, representing patients from 19 Indian states. The programme has also performed transplants for international patients, including a recipient from Sudan.
Advanced Mechanical Support
For critically ill candidates awaiting a donor organ, the centre employs Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) and Ventricular Assist Devices (VADs) to provide life‑sustaining support, enabling patients to remain viable transplant candidates during the waiting period.
Organ Donation Advocacy
The event underscored the persistent organ‑scarcity challenge in India. Narayana Health reiterated its commitment to raise organ‑donation awareness and encourage public pledges, emphasizing that each pledge can become a lifesaving opportunity.
Institutional Profile
Founded by Dr Devi Shetty, Narayana Health operates a network of primary, secondary and super‑speciality tertiary care facilities across India, the United Kingdom and the Caribbean. The group employs 18,822 professionals, including 3,868 doctors, and runs subsidiaries such as Narayana One Health (NH Integrated Care) and Narayana Health Insurance.