Archive · 16 Aug 2026
Sikkim's first organ transplant centre opens with two kidney transplants
Sikkim is a small Himalayan state in India that never had its own organ transplant centre.
On Independence Day, a new organ transplantation centre and a special ICU opened at STNM Hospital in Gangtok.
It is the first facility of this kind in the state.
Two people from Sikkim got new kidneys on the same day.
Neching Lepcha's kidney came from his wife, Pem Diki Lepcha.
Shova Chettri's kidney came from Dal Bahadur Chettri.
Doctors from R.N. Tagore Hospital in Calcutta helped with the operations.
The state governor and chief minister were there for the opening.
The chief minister said the centre is part of a plan to give people advanced medical care closer to home.
Sikkim's first organ transplantation centre and post-transplant ICU were inaugurated at STNM Hospital in Gangtok on Independence Day.
Governor Om Prakash Mathur inaugurated the facilities with Chief Minister P.S. Tamang (Golay) and Health Minister G.T. Dhungel present.
Two Sikkimese patients underwent kidney transplantation for the first time within the state.
Neching Lepcha received a kidney donated by his wife Pem Diki Lepcha, while Shova Chettri received one from Dal Bahadur Chettri.
The transplant team from R.N. Tagore Hospital, Calcutta, led by T.A. Jahangir, carried out the procedures alongside STNM Hospital nephrologist Abhishek Gautam.
- Who
- Governor Om Prakash Mathur, Chief Minister P.S. Tamang (Golay), Health Minister G.T. Dhungel, and patients Neching Lepcha, Shova Chettri and their donors Pem Diki Lepcha and Dal Bahadur Chettri.
- What
- An organ transplantation centre and post-transplant ICU were inaugurated, and two kidney transplants were performed for the first time in Sikkim.
- When
- On Independence Day (Saturday).
- Where
- STNM Hospital, Gangtok, Sikkim.
- Why
- To expand access to advanced medical services in Sikkim and reduce the need for patients to travel outside the state for treatment.
- Facility
- Organ transplantation centre and post-transplant ICU
- Location
- STNM Hospital, Gangtok, Sikkim
- Milestone
- First organ transplant centre and first kidney transplants in Sikkim
- Inaugurated by
- Governor Om Prakash Mathur
- Transplant 1
- Neching Lepcha (Tashiding), donor: Pem Diki Lepcha (wife)
- Transplant 2
- Shova Chettri (Bhusuk), donor: Dal Bahadur Chettri
- Surgical team
- R.N. Tagore Hospital, Calcutta, led by T.A. Jahangir, with nephrologist Abhishek Gautam