IGIMS bone marrow transplant cheer

Patna: The Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) is expected to start bone marrow transplant by June, becoming the first government hospital in Bihar to offer the facility.

A bone marrow transplant procedure replaces a patient’s faulty bone marrow with healthy bone marrow, to treat diseases such as leukemia, thalassemia, aplastic anemia, sickle cell anemia, multiple myeloma and certain immune deficiency diseases.

IGIMS director N.R. Biswas told The Telegraph: “Bone marrow transplant procedures will start in the hospital within the next two months. All the planning is in place.”

The procedure was due to start by February-March but did not for procedural delays.

Biswas said: “Tender was floated a few months ago for the apheresis machine that separates stem cells from the blood components. We have now procured this machine from the manufacturer. The hospital has also started the process to purchase other machines required for bone marrow transplant.”

Work on other infrastructure requirements were being looked into, Biswas added.

Once IGIMS starts the facility, it will be the first government hospital with the service and able to cure different forms of cancer, including blood cancer.

IGIMS director Biswas said training was on for doctors who will perform the transplants as well as for the paramedic staff.

Sources in the hospital said patients from Bihar would be able to avail the treatment at IGIMS at cheaper rates because it was a government hospital. An administrative official said a bone marrow transplant would cost Rs 3 lakh at IGIMS, which would go up to Rs 8-10 lakh for people travelling outside Bihar. The official said Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai charges Rs 8 lakh for the procedure.

Courtesy: The Telegraph