SCB’s Bone Marrow Transplant Unit to Resume Soon Under Expert Mentorship
Cuttack,(OT Webdesk)– After months of dormancy, the Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) Unit at SCB Medical College and Hospital is set to resume services, following a government assurance to the Orissa High Court.
The unit’s operations had halted earlier this year following the retirement of its chief transplant physician.
In a decisive move, the Health Secretary informed the court that renowned haematologist Dr. Prabodh Kumar Das—formerly associated with AIIMS—has agreed to mentor the BMT program as an honorary advisor.
He will oversee transplant procedures and build capacity among existing faculty members.
Despite having participated in previous procedures, the current associate and assistant professors lacked the confidence to conduct transplants independently. The last significant milestone achieved was Odisha’s first paediatric allogeneic transplant.
The court was also informed that the SCB superintendent has been tasked with immediately coordinating with Dr. Das to expedite service resumption. The government is additionally drafting Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and establishing institutional tie-ups to ensure continuity in core medical services even after key personnel retire.
SCB remains the only government facility in Odisha offering free bone marrow transplants, making its revival critical for thousands of patients statewide.
