Chandigarh, June 10,
In a significant stride to enhance tertiary healthcare, the Punjab Government today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Christian Medical College (CMC), Ludhiana, to establish the state’s inaugural public sector Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) facility. The initiative targets a life-saving solution for children with thalassemia.
The MoU was formalized in the presence of Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh, who lauded the collaborative effort and reaffirmed the government’s pledge to deliver advanced, affordable healthcare to all. The program will offer free HLA typing and subsidized allogeneic stem cell (bone marrow) transplantation to eligible patients, especially children under 12, which is the only cure for thalassemia, eliminating the need for ongoing blood transfusions post-treatment.
Presently, Punjab lacks a government medical college with a functioning BMT unit, forcing patients with thalassemia, blood cancers, and other blood disorders to seek expensive care elsewhere. This partnership with CMC Ludhiana, a leader in BMT expertise, aims to address this gap, making curative treatment accessible to economically disadvantaged patients.
watch…https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRdzrd7XcOw
The BMT center will bring essential treatment closer to home, particularly benefiting rural and underserved regions with local follow-up care for better monitoring and results. It will also serve as a training and skill development center, bolstering Punjab’s transplant network and encouraging higher treatment participation while minimizing dropouts.
Dr. Balbir Singh remarked, “This marks a historic leap toward equitable healthcare in Punjab. This partnership offers new hope to countless families facing life-threatening conditions, beyond just building a facility.” The center is set to launch soon, with strong collaboration between the Health Department, CMC Ludhiana, and stakeholders to ensure transparent, patient-focused care.
Also present were Principal Secretary Health Kumar Rahul, Director Health and Family Welfare Dr. Hatinder Kaur, Dr. Balwinder Singh (Director, National Health Mission, Punjab), Dr. Allen Joseph (Medical Superintendent, CMC Ludhiana), Dr. M Joseph John (Associate Director, Professor & Head, Clinical Haematology, Haemato-Oncology & BMT, CMC Ludhiana), Dr. Vishal Garg (Additional Project Director, PSACS), Dr. Sunita Devi (Joint Director, BTS, PSACS), and Dr. Rishav Aggarwal (Deputy Director STI, PSACS)
