Prayagraj Hospital Achieves Milestone with First Bone Marrow Transplant
In a significant medical breakthrough for the region, doctors at Kamla Nehru Memorial Hospital (KNMH) in Prayagraj have successfully conducted their inaugural bone marrow transplant (BMT). The procedure was performed on a 63-year-old patient from Pratapgarh who was suffering from blood cancer, marking the launch of a sophisticated life-saving treatment service at the hospital.
Comprehensive Preparation and Advanced Technology
Dr Manas Dubey, consultant and unit in-charge medical oncologist at KNMH, detailed the extensive groundwork undertaken before initiating the facility. Extensive training workshops were conducted for hospital staff, followed by the selection and specialized training of a dedicated team for the BMT procedure.
The treatment utilized the patient's own bone marrow, with stem cell mobilization carried out using a newly acquired apheresis machine. To ensure precision, the hospital has also installed an advanced stem cell count machine, which accurately determines the required quantity of bone marrow for extraction.
Patient Journey and Treatment Protocol
The patient, diagnosed with blood cancer, first reported to the hospital in April of the previous year. He was admitted on March 17 this year and discharged recently. The treatment involved a multi-step process:
- Extraction of healthy stem cells from the patient's blood
- Administration of high-dose chemotherapy
- Performance of the stem cell transplantation procedure
Throughout the treatment, the patient and attendant were maintained in strict isolation with HEPA-filtered care to mitigate any risk of infection.
Financial Accessibility and Future Plans
Hospital CEO Dr Madhu Chandra highlighted that the procedure, which typically costs between Rs 12 to 15 lakh in private hospitals, was provided completely free of cost to the patient. She emphasized the hospital's commitment to creating a corpus fund with trustee support to assist economically weaker patients in accessing such expensive treatments in the future.
Currently, approximately 10 patients are on the wait list for similar procedures, indicating significant demand for this advanced medical service.
Regional Significance and Team Composition
Director of Administration Hari Om Singh noted that this facility is only the second of its kind in eastern Uttar Pradesh, following a similar setup in Varanasi. The successful medical team included Dr Varsha from pathology, Dr Manas Dubey, and supporting staff, whose collaborative efforts ensured the procedure's success.
This achievement not only enhances the hospital's medical capabilities but also provides a crucial healthcare option for patients in the region, reducing the need for travel to distant metropolitan centers for advanced treatments.
