The Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH) now has the State’s first stem cell/bone marrow transplantation unit in the government sector. State Health Minister C. Vijaya Baskar inaugurated the ₹6.89 crore unit on Monday. In a note to the press, the Minister said that as a result of this initiative, patients in need can avail of free treatment for blood cancers, as well as other blood disorders. “Generally, these treatments in the private sector cost up to ₹35 lakh,” the note said.
Insurance scheme
Up until now, bone marrow transplants were not available in the government sector. Covered under the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme for up to ₹17 lakh, the procedure was performed at private hospitals empanelled under the scheme. So far, the scheme has covered 473 beneficiaries at an amount of ₹36.88 crore, a press note said.
Margaret Chellaraj, head of the haematology department at RGGGH, said the unit was a state of the art facility to treat adults.
It can be used to treat malignant conditions such as blood cancers like leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma, she said. Non-malignant conditions, including aplastic anaemia, immunodeficiency disorders and genetic conditions, such as thalassemia and sickle cell anaemia, can also be treated, she added. The department sees around 150 outpatients every day.
