AIIMS Nagpur inaugurates ART Centre, ID-NAT Lab and Blood Irradiator Unit

Nagpur: The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Nagpur marked a major milestone in healthcare advancement with the inauguration of its patient care facilities and services, the Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Centre, Individual Donor-Nucleic Acid Testing (ID-NAT) Laboratory, and Blood Irradiator Unit by Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra, in the presence of Prof. (Dr.) Prashant P. Joshi, Executive Director and CEO, AIIMS Nagpur.

The newly inaugurated Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Centre signifies a transformative step in reproductive healthcare for Central India.

Developed at a project cost of approximately ₹5 crore, this state-of-the-art In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) facility houses advanced operation theatres, world-class laboratories, incubator systems, and cryopreservation units. The centre offers comprehensive infertility services under one roof and ensures high standards of safety and success.

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With its establishment, AIIMS Nagpur becomes the first government institute in Maharashtra and Central India to provide affordable, evidence-based infertility treatment, benefitting couples from the economically weaker sections, who otherwise face prohibitive costs in private facilities. The ART Centre will also serve as a hub for clinical training, research, and innovation in reproductive medicine.

In addition, AIIMS Nagpur has started two critical blood safety facilities under the Department of Transfusion: the Individual Donor-Nucleic Acid Testing (ID-NAT) Laboratory and the Blood Irradiator Unit. The ID-NAT facility enables molecular screening of every donated blood unit for HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C. Unlike conventional serological tests, ID-NAT detects viral nucleic acids during the window period, thus minimizing the risk of transfusion-transmitted infections.

Established at a cost of about 2.5 crore, this facility makes AIIMS Nagpur the first government institution in Maharashtra and Central India to adopt this advanced blood-screening technology, ensuring safer transfusions for patients, particularly those from marginalized and tribal communities and those affected by sickle cell disease.

The newly commissioned Blood Irradiator Unit, procured from the Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology under the Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, at a cost of approximately 50 lakh, is the first of its kind in Central India and the first among government hospitals in Maharashtra.

The unit prevents Transfusion-Associated Graft Versus Host Disease (TA-GVHD), a rare but often fatal reaction in immunocompromised patients, including those undergoing renal or bone marrow transplants and those with sickle cell disease.

AIIMS Nagpur has successfully conducted 52 kidney transplants to date, and liver transplantation services are currently underway. Given the high prevalence of sickle cell disease and related complications among the tribal population of Vidarbha, these facilities are expected to offer immense benefit to these vulnerable communities by ensuring timely access to safe blood and advanced transplantation support.

Under the leadership and support of Prof. (Dr.) Prashant P. Joshi, Executive Director and CEO, these landmark developments were steered by Dr. Suchita Mundle, Professor and Head, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and her team and the and Faculty in charge, Department of Transfusion Medicine, Dr. Soumya Das.

The Chief Minister appreciated the efforts of the institute in strengthening affordable, evidence- based, and equitable healthcare services for all sections of society. With these three pioneering facilities, AIIMS Nagpur continues to advance its mission of accessible, equitable, and world-class healthcare.

These developments will benefit thousands of patients across Central India, reinforce transfusion safety, and make infertility treatment affordable and evidence-based. Guided by its motto "Passion for Excellence", AIIMS Nagpur remains committed to innovation, patient safety, and inclusive healthcare delivery.

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