Srinagar: For the first time in the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir the department of Clinical Haematology in the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura, has performed a matched sibling Allogenic Stem Cell/Bone Marrow Transplant for an eight-year-old patient suffering from Beta Thalassemia Major.
Earlier the department had performed the first Stem/Bone Marrow Transplant on a patient suffering from Aplastic Anemia, a newspaper published from Kashmir said quoting Assistant Director Public Relations (ADPR) Kulsoom Bhat.
The patient, a Ist class student from Bihar, was diagnosed as Beta Thalassemia major at the age of 8 months was evaluated at AIIMS, New Delhi and was offered Bone Marrow Transplant as curative therapy, said Dr Javid Rasool Bhat, Prof and Head Clinical Haematology Department. The approximate cost of this procedure was quoted as Rs 10 lakhs.
As the patient belonged to a very poor family and could not afford this costly treatment, he was brought by his parents to the Department of Clinical Haematology at SKIMS for treatment.
Stem Cell Transplantation was the only curative treatment option for him and after his sister’s bone marrow stem cells were fortunately found to be matching, the patient was taken for Allogenic matched sibling transplant on December 30 last.
At present, patient is doing well and is being planned for discharge in few days, Dr. Javaid said and thanked Director SKIMS for all the support and said this will raise new hope for poor and deserving patients who need Bone Marrow Transplant.
Director SKIMS, Dr AG Ahangar, complimented the whole Department of Clinical Haematology including faculty members: Dr Sajad Geelani Additional Prof, Dr Reashma Roshan Assistant Prof, Dr Afaq Ahmad Khan Asstt Prof and Senior Residents (both Clinical & Lab. side), Resident staff as well as Paramedical Staff of Ward 5P, technical staff (lab. side) and office staff of Clinical Hematology Department including all other supportive Departments. He said SKIMS has created niche in conducting rare procedures which is benefitting poor patients.