Chandigarh: The Punjab government and Ludhiana’s Christian Medical College (CMC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the state’s first bone marrow transplant (BMT) facility in a public sector setting.
The aim of this initiative is to launch a life-saving program for children suffering from thalassemia and to provide a permanent solution to their medical issues.
During the signing ceremony, Health Minister, Dr. Balbir Singh, praised the collaborative efforts of the project and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to making advanced healthcare accessible and affordable for all citizens.
Under the programme, eligible patients — particularly those under the age of 12 and suffering from thalassemia, blood cancers, and hematologic disorders — will be provided free of cost for Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) typing and subsidized allogeneic stem cell (bone marrow) transplantation. This is currently the only curative treatment available for thalassemia.
The partnership with CMC Ludhiana aims to provide critical treatment closer to home, especially benefiting those from rural and underserved districts. A local transplant capability will ensure better monitoring and outcomes, and the centre will also function as a training and skill development hub to strengthen the transplant ecosystem in Punjab and improve access to treatment for local patients. The Ministry of Health has flagged this partnership as a historic step towards equitable healthcare in Punjab.
Punjab to Launch Bone Marrow Transplant Facility
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