Few hearts to go around

TEN years after introducing the heart transplant programme, the National Heart Institute (IJN) has performed a mere 17 heart transplants so far. 

While these fortunate 17 end-stage heart failure patients were each given a chance for a new lease of life, seven now lead a normal live, including Albert Gunaratnam, 59, the longest surviving transplant patient in the country who received a new heart nine years ago.