INSTITUTE OF NEPHROLOGY

Facilities and services

ACHIEVEMENTS:

Department’s achievements are mentioned under the following headings: Newer developments that have happened during the last 5 years are highlighted.

1) Patient care

2) Academic training and research

3) Community level services

Patient care & services:

Comprehensive renal care is provided to poor patients with kidney diseases hailing from all over the state.

No of units in the department: 2

 OP day’s and timings: Unit – I      Unit –II

General Nephrology OP          Monday & Thursday          Tuesday & Friday

               (10.30 Am to 1PM) (10.30 Am to 1PM)

Renal Transplant OP                          Wednesday  

                     (10.30 Am to 1PM)

Admission Days :                       Unit – I      Unit –II

Mon  / wed /  Thurs Tues / Fri / sat

BED STRENGTH

UNIT I = 30 beds;   UNIT II = 30 beds

2

I. SERVICES.

1. Regular Out-patient & In-patient care with Laboratory investigations & periodic follow – up.

2. Round - the - clock intermittent Peritoneal Dialysis

3.  Hemodialysis including SLED & CRRT

4. Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis(CAPD)

5. Kidney Transplantation (living  and deceased donor)

Out patient services:  

General Nephrology OP: 4 days a week. (till 2011, it was on 3 days a week)

Exclusive OP for renal transplant recipients’ follow up once a week

In patient services:

Number of patients admitted has gone up significantly during the last 3 years

Dialysis services:

Round the clock facilities for acute peritoneal dialysis and haemodialysis are available.

Acute peritoneal dialysis is also performed in various other departments  by our personnel. Our centre performs maximum number of acute PD in the entire world.

A ‘state of the art’ new maintenance haemodialysis unit was started in March 2013. With generous donations from a Philanthropist and Indian Society of Nephrology, Southern chapter and contributions from Tamil Nadu Government, a new Maintenance Hemodialysis unit was inaugurated on 13th March 2013 with 12 machines.This is the first of it’s kind in any Govt. institution of Tamilnadu. In this unit, underprivileged patients with end stage renal failure without a suitable related kidney donor are getting regular haemodialysis Now the unit has expanded to cater about 80 patients. Dedicated machines have been allocated to patients with Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV positive patients. Entire dialysis including parenteral iron and  erythropoietin injection are given free of cost under chief minister’s comprehensive health insurance scheme(CMCHIS)

CAPD: (Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis)

A mode of dialysis which can be performed by the patient at home itself. Very beneficial for patients hailing from places where there is no haemodialysis facility. Our centre is the first Govt. centre to start this facility. So far 150 patients have been started on CAPD. Our institute has been state nodal point for CAPD under Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam[MTM], Govt flagship programme to deliver health care to last mile.

Both CAPD and maintenance HD have become reality because of CMCHIS

NEW MAINTENANCE HEMODIALYSIS UNIT:

 Renal Transplantation Programme

First renal transplantation was done in                                    1986

Regular transplant programme was started in                         1987

First cadaver renal transplant was done in                               1996

Regular cadaver transplant programme was started in            2008

Achievements so far:

Total number of renal transplants:       1609(till date)

Living related donor transplants:             1303

Cadaver donor renal transplants:               306

(  TX – Renal Transplants,PD –Peritoneal dialysis, HD- Hemo dialysis)

ACADEMIC and RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

D.M.Nephrology Course was started in 1978 with one candidate per year which was increased to two from the academic year 1980-81.The number was increased to 6 per year from 2010. This department has trained 85 nephrologists till date. We have conducted 6 National / Regional conferences so far.

M.D. (Gen.Med.) qualified post graduates (six per annum) are being trained for D.M. Nephrology degree. Our department is among the ones in the entire country which have trained maximum number of trainees. An intensive structured teaching programme is part of the training schedule. Apart from Nephrology postgraduates, the following students are also trained in Nephrology.

Medical: Undergraduates – M.B.B.S

Postgraduates – M.D. (Gen. Medicine & Geriatrics),

D.M.(Rheumatology),

Nursing: Diploma, B.Sc., M.Sc.,

Pharmacy: B Pharm, PharmD

Nutrition: B.Sc.

Dialysis Technology

Dialysis Technology Training Course

In 2004, one year certificate course in ‘Dialysis Technology’ was started.Every year, 20 students are trained in haemodialysis techniques.

• Completion of 50 years of Nephrology service
• Institute of Nephrology , One of the oldest established department in the entire country. It was established in 1972 and so far 149 nephrologists has passed out of this institute so far.

• Highest number of COVID dialysis in state of Tamilnadu
• During the covid pandemic, Institute of Nephrology was in fore front taking care of COVID ICU.
• We catered to 1750 patients from 108 centres during the pandemic with dedicated 10 dialysis stations serving 24 x7 saving numerous lives

• First successful renal transplant in patient living with HIV disease and highest number of HIV dialysis
• First renal transplant in patient with HIV disease in a public funded hospital was successfully carried in 2021 with patient’s mother being the donor.
• Both the donor and recipient doing well. Institute of Nephrology offers maximum number of HIV dialysis with separate station around 75 sessions per month

• ABO incompatible renal transplant
• We have done 4 renal transplantations across the blood group. Doing Renal transplant between compatible blood groups is the norm.
• ABO incompatible transplant is technically challenging ,needs vigorous monitoring and protecting patients from over immunosuppression and infection.

• Institute of Nephrology takes immense pleasure and proud in offering paediatric kidney transplants. Since 2022, 25 paediatric patients underwent successful renal transplant.

INSTITUTE OF NEPHROLOGY - RAJIV GANDHI GOVT GENERAL HOSPITAL

Renal Transplantation Programme

• First renal transplantation was done in 1986
• Regular transplant programme was started in 1987
• First cadaver renal transplant was done in 1996
• Regular cadaver transplant programme was started in 2008

Achievements so far

• Total number of renal transplants: 1736 (As on July 2025)
• Living related donor transplants: 1365
• Cadaver donor renal transplants: 371

Unique features of the programme

• Entire renal transplant programme is free of cost
• Beneficiaries are hailing from poor socioeconomic strata
• 57 beneficiaries were from other states (Andhra, Karnataka, Kerala, Bihar, West Bengal)
• Three beneficiaries were from other countries (Sri Lanka, Nepal)
• Pre-transplant evaluation, surgery and post-transplant follow-up are provided free of cost
• Immunosuppressive medicines are issued free to patients, to be taken life-long
• Newer immunosuppressives like Cyclosporine, Tacrolimus and Mycophenolate mofetil are also regularly provided (cost ~ Rs. 15,000 – 20,000/month first year, Rs. 5,000 – 10,000/month later)
• Special induction medicines like Basiliximab or Anti Thymocyte Globulin are also given (cost ~ Rs. 60,000)
• Tamil Nadu is the first state in India to offer free transplant services
• MMC has performed the maximum number of free transplants in the country
• The Tamil Nadu cadaver transplant model is recognized nationally and internationally as the “Tamil Nadu Model”

Renal Transplant ICU

• Situated in the 4th floor of Renal Block
• Consists of 6 isolation rooms, all well-equipped with multi-para monitor, O₂, and ventilator facilities
• 2 rooms equipped with dialysis stations – allows management without shifting patients to dialysis unit
• Manned by dedicated nursing staff and nephrology postgraduates round the clock