Centre for Transplantation of Organs opens in Siberia

West Siberia's first Centre for the Transplantation of Organs was opened on Monday on the basis of the Omsk clinical hospital No.1 (Omsk is the centre of a region in West Siberia of the same name). So far the centre will carry out kidney transplants only, but by the end of 2003 it will start transplanting prostates, and in 5-6 years' time the surgeons intend to carry out the first liver transplant.

Chief physician of the centre Vasily Mamontov said it was planned that the first operation in the centre will be carried out already in the current year. Most of the surgery will be free of charge.

Preparations for creating the Centre began in 1989. Construction was financed from the medical insurance fund, and money was also allocated by the administration of the Omsk Region.