First successful bone marrow transplant in Assam

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: In a first in the state, the State Government has conducted a bone marrow transplant (BMT) successfully at the GMCH (Gauhati Medical College and Hospital). GMCH discharged the 45-year-old patient from Kamalpur today after the bone marrow transplant.

Talking to the media at the GMCH today, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma congratulated Hematologist Dr Jina Bhattacharyya, who led the team of doctors, for the successful operation. The Chief Minister said, "The GMCH has two beds for BMT patients. We will increase the number of BMT beds after the completion of the State Cancer Hospital. We used to send our BMT patients to Narayana Hrudayalaya Hospital. The cost of such an operation is around Rs 7-8 lakh there. Now, such a patient can get BMT done at the GMCH at Rs 2 lakh. The GMCH will offer free-of-cost BMT operations for children. We are trying to bring BMT operation available under the Arogya Nidhi to help the poor. Though the AMCH (Assam Medical College and Hospital), SMCH (Silchar Medical College and Hospital) and the JMCH (Jorhat Medical College and Hospital) have made strides, they will need 10-15 years to have such facilities."

The BMT facility is also available at B Borooah Cancer Hospital here.

On IVF (in vitro fertilization) facility, the Chief Minister said, "The Government has been trying to make this facility available in the state since 2010 but could not make headway. However, now we hope to make that facility available in the state within a year. We are also trying to make liver transplant facilities available in the state. We have already appointed a doctor for a liver transplant, and talks are on with another. AIG Hospital, Hyderabad has assured us of extending all help in this regard."

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