Device Developed in India to Support Heart Transplant Patients

India is taking a significant step in cardiac treatment by enhancing left ventricular assist devices (LVADs), which can aid the heart in pumping blood, which results in patients experiencing end-stage heart failure as they wait for a heart donor. A government report indicates nearly 50,000 patients in India are looking for a heart transplant, yet only 200 operations are completed due to a shortage of donor hearts. Indeed, the average wait time for the operation is 3 years, and imported LVADs are priced anywhere between Rs 70 lakh and Rs 1 crore, resulting in an affordability challenge.

The government’s initiative targets to cut the dependency on high-priced imports and make life-saving treatment more accessible. The process is in the development stage and will require nearly 100 cr for the project research and testing. The funding is expected to be sourced from the Department of Science and Technology or the Anusandhan National Research Foundation.

A 2024 Niti Aayog Mission report commends creating a specialized committee for project overview, guaranteeing timely execution and regulatory sanctions. The LVADs development is anticipated to take more than 5 years. High level institutions such as IIT Kharagpur, IIT Kanpur, IIT Delhi, and the Sri Chitra Institute of Medical Sciences are determinately working on cost-effective solutions, with total artificial hearts.

The initiative is anticipated to break India’s position as a hub for advanced medical treatments whereas improving results of heart failures.