Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Dec 28: As the first ever successful Autologous Bone Marrow Stem Cell Transplant was performed at SMHS Srinagar a few days ago, the doctors at the hospital Wednesday said that they will continue to conduct such procedures for patients in need of such treatment.
Dr Mir Sadaqat, Assistant Professor Department of Medicine and Clinical Hematology at GMC who conducted first ever autologous bone marrow transplant procedure a few days ago, said that it was historical achievement for GMC Srinagar as such procedure was conducted first time at the hospital.
He said such a procedure was started at SKIMS Soura around a year or two ago, but now this procedure has been started at GMC also which will continue for other patients in need of such treatment.
He said that patients need not to go outside the valley for such a procedure now as it is a very costly one.
“Conduct this kind of procedure was a challenge and after discussions with several doctors and patients along with the attendants, finally this procedure was started,” the doctor said.
He said the patient on whom the procedure was conducted is fine and has been discharged as such treatment will be given to other cancer patients who require it.
“There are different types of cancers coming to fore during evaluation as the number of cancer patients is increasing in Kashmir”, he said, adding that with the help of a number of experts, doctors, oncologists and haematologists, patients are being evaluated at their door steps.
He said that multiple myeloma and leukemia is common in Kashmir and success rate of Autologous Bone Marrow Stem transactions is very high and can have complications as well. “But such procedures are carried out in all developed countries,” he said.
Notably, an autologous stem cell transplant uses healthy blood stem cells from one’s own body to replace diseased or damaged bone marrow. An autologous stem cell transplant is also called an autologous bone marrow transplant.
