August 28,2025 — The Maharashtra Public Health Department has suspended the live liver transplant licence of Sahyadri Super Speciality Hospital, Deccan(Pune), after a patient and his donor wife died following a transplant procedure.
The operation was carried out on August 15. The recipient, 49-year-old Bapu Komkar, underwent a liver transplant with a portion of the organ donated by his wife, 42-year-old Kamini Komkar. The patient died soon after the surgery owing to heart complications, while the donor developed severe post-surgical issues and died on August 22.
Health authorities have issued a notice to the hospital and demanded a detailed account of the surgery, including treatment records and procedural documentation. A special committee under the Human Organ Transplantation Act, 1994 has been formed to investigate the matter. The panel, led by Dr. Nitin Ambadekar, Director of Health Services, has been asked to submit its report within four weeks.
Officials pointed out that the hospital did not notify the department promptly about the deaths, which is a breach of mandatory reporting requirements. The Pune Municipal Corporation has also been asked to assist in monitoring the case.
Relatives of the deceased have alleged medical negligence and have appealed for a transparent inquiry. It has also been reported that the family had pledged their house to cover the cost of the transplant.
In its statement, Sahyadri Hospital denied any wrongdoing, asserting that standard medical guidelines were followed throughout the procedure. The hospital further stated that the recipient was a high-risk patient and both donor and recipient were counselled in advance about possible risks. The hospital has suspended live donor liver transplant operations while the inquiry continues.
The health department has clarified that the licence will remain suspended until the committee submits its findings.
