GMC Srinagar performs its first bone marrow stem cell transplant

Srinagar, Dec 27: Government Medical College, Srinagar and its associated SMHS hospital has successfully performed its first  autologous bone marrow stem cell transplant in a case of high risk multiple myeloma.

In a statement, spokesperson of GMC Srinagar said the patient was admitted in Medical Unit-III of the Postgraduate Department of Medicine and the whole procedure was conducted by the qualified and experienced Clinical Hematologist Dr. Mir Sadaqat, Assistant Professor-Department of Medicine and Clinical Hematology Unit of GMC and Associated Super-Specialty Hospital, Srinagar.

“The procedure involved stem cell mobilisation, stem cell harvesting, myeloablation and stem cell rescue. The patient remained admitted for 22 days in the hospital and was discharged after successful engraftment of the stem cells,” the statement said.

“It was due to the visionary approach of principal GMC Srinagar Prof. (Dr.) Masood Tanvir and his administration along with guidance from Prof.(Dr) Rakesh K Koul, HoD Medicine GMC Srinagar, support from Prof. (Dr.) Mohammad Ismail – HoMU-III, mentorship by Prof. (Dr.) Javid Rasool, HoD Clinical Hematology SKIMS Soura and full blood bank support from Prof. (Dr) Sheikh Bilal, HoD Pathology/Blood Bank and Transfusion Medicine which made this successful,” it said.

“This is the first time in the history of GMC Srinagar that this type of treatment modality in a blood cancer patient has been provided that too in a resource limited setting. By providing such treatment modalities to cancer patients will definitely help them not only as a standard care for a disease but also an option which was never available before,” the statement added.