Telangana sees massive jump in lung transplants post-Covid

The massive jump in lung transplants is a clear indication of the long-term impact of the Covid virus on lungs, pulmonologists in Hyderabad point out

Hyderabad: The Covid-19 pandemic is long gone but Telangana continues to remain under its shadow! Post-Covid, the health care system in Telangana State has witnessed a massive jump in lung transplants, a clear indication of the long-term damage the pandemic has inflicted on the lungs of individuals.

Before the Covid pandemic, between 2013 and 2019, Telangana State witnessed just 23 lung transplants. In stark contrast, within a short time span of just over four years, between 2020 and 2025(up to March), transplant centres in Telangana State have performed a record 341 lung transplants.

The massive jump in lung transplants is a clear indication of the long-term impact of the Covid virus on lungs, pulmonologists in Hyderabad point out. “There is a definite increase in the instances of fibrosis, especially Interstitial Lung Diseases (ILD) and bronchiolitis among patients in Hyderabad and districts after the Covid pandemic. These are clearly the long-term Covid complications,” says senior pulmonologist from Hyderabad and former Director of Chest Hospital, Dr Mahaboob Khan.

Long term lung damage post-Covid pandemic includes pulmonary fibrosis, which involves scarring of the lung tissue, making it very stiff and impossible for the oxygen to pass into the bloodstream and bronchiolitis, a medical condition that involves inflammation and scarring of the small airways in the lungs.

“There is no treatment for such ailments and we usually advise lung transplantation for such patients. We can also sustain the patients under steroids and other high-end medications. But these are short-lived. The final solution is only lung transplantation,” says Dr Mahaboob Khan.

While the State-run Jeevandan organ donation initiative has ensured there is a steady supply of donor lungs from brain dead victims, the fact also remains that lung transplant is highly specialized, very expensive and remains restricted to individuals who can afford it.

“It costs anywhere between Rs 20 lakh and Rs 35 lakh for lung transplants in private transplant centres and it is not covered under Aarogyasri health insurance. While donor lungs are accessible, they are not affordable for large sections of the society,” senior doctors said.

Lung transplants at a glance: (Since organ transplantation started in 2013)

2013 (03): 2014(00): 2015 (01); 2016 (02), 2017 (02), 2018 (06), 2019 (09), 2020 (20), 2021 (83), 2022 (66) , 2023 (76) , 2024 (75) , 2025 (21 till March).

• Post-Covid, lung transplants witness massive jump

• Between 2013 and 2019, there were 23 lung transplants

• Between 2020 and 2025 (March), 341 lung transplants in Telangana State

• All lung transplants done by private corporate hospitals

• Lung transplants cost between Rs 25 lakh to Rs 25 lakh

• Not covered under Jeevandan