External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj underwent a kidney transplant at the All India Institute of Medical Science in New Delhi on Friday, ANI reported. The 64-year-old, who was admitted to the institute on November 16, was given an organ by a living donor not related to her. Doctors on Saturday afternoon said the procedure was successful.
AIIMS officials said the organ was chosen from a non-relative as no suitable family member was found. The hospital’s authorisation committee had cleared the donation. and pre-transplant procedures were also been completed by doctors. A series of blood and immunological tests had found both the donor and Swaraj fit for the transplant procedure.
According to doctors at the facility, Swaraj has been suffering from diabetes for quite some time. A senior doctor said the minister was undergoing dialysis thrice a week.
On December 7, her husband and former Mizoram governor Swaraj Kaushal had requested the media to observe boundaries when reporting on the minister, NDTV reported. “The media reports about Sushma’s surgery are so detailed. I think we will have to prepare for a live telecast. Alas ! A lady in public life is also a citizen of India and entitled to some privacy,” he had said on Twitter.
Swaraj had undergone treatment for pneumonia after she was admitted at AIIMS in April for chest congestion and fever.
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