Punjab to have bone marrow transplant institute

LAHORE:Punjab will establish a state-of-the-art Punjab Institute of Blood Diseases and Bone Marrow Transplant, announced Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid here Tuesday.

The decision was made on directives from Chief Minister Usman Buzdar and the formal announcement was made in a meeting of the health authorities chaired by Dr Yasmin Rashid at the Committee Room of the Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Department.

Secretary Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Department Barrister Nabeel Awan, Special Secretary Silwat Saeed, Additional Secretary Nadir Chattha, renowned expert on Bone Marrow transplants and Director NIBD Dr Tahir Shamsi and other senior staff members were also present in the meeting.

The minister 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.”

Dr Yasmin Rashid reviewed all arrangements and preparations, including the PC-1 of the Punjab Institute of Blood Diseases and Bone Marrow Transplants during the meeting. Prof Dr Tahir Shamsi presented technical briefing on the scale of the diseases and the possible interventions to control and treat them. He assured of complete technical support from his institute.

The institute will also work on the prevention component related to hereditary diseases in addition to transplants. The specialists and staff of the institute will 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.