Punjab to set up new facility for blood diseases, bone-marrow transplantation

LAHORE: Punjab is set to establish a state-of-the-art medical facility for blood diseases and bone-marrow transplantation, the provincial health minister, Dr Yasmin Rashid, announced on Tuesday.

The decision to establish the Punjab Institute of Blood Diseases and Bone Marrow Transplant was made on Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar's directives, with the formal announcement being made during a Dr Rashid-chaired meeting of the health authorities at the Specialised Healthcare & Medical Education Department.

The department's secretary, special secretary, and additional secretary, Barrister Nabeel Awan, Silwat Saeed, and Nadir Chattha, respectively, as well as Professor Dr Tahir Shamsi, a renowned expert on bone marrow transplants and the director of the National Institute of Blood Disease & Bone Marrow Transplantation (NIBD) and other senior staff members were also present in the meeting.

Dr Rashid said: "This will be a 200-bed institute and will be equipped with top quality diagnosis and treatment facilities for blood diseases and bone marrow transplants. This institute will provide specialised and advanced level treatment to hereditary diseases, Thalassaemia, Hemophilia ITP, and other similar disorders and diseases."

She reviewed all arrangements and preparations, including the PC-1 of the new institute during the meeting.

Dr Shamsi presented a technical briefing on the scale of the diseases and possible interventions to control and treat them. He assured of complete technical support from his institute.

The institute would also work on the prevention component related to hereditary diseases in addition to transplants. The institute's specialists and staff would be trained on modern lines.

"We hope that this facility will help us to save millions of lives in Punjab. This is a first of its kind initiative and will be a great service to the people of Punjab," the minister said.