Kerala to Establish First State-Level Bone Marrow Registry in India
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Kerala Health department to set up bone marrow registry
The registry aims at preparing a database of stem cell donors to help blood cancer patients, for whom finding matching stem cell donors is a herculean task. It is being set up as a pilot project of the Malabar Cancer Centre (MCC), Thalassery, and the Kerala Development and Innovation Strategic Council (K-DISC) For the first time in the State, the Health department has sanctioned the setting up of a bone marrow registry. The said registry is being set up as a pilot project of the Malabar Cancer Centre (MCC), Thalassery, and the Kerala Development and Innovation Strategic Council (K-DISC). The registry aims at preparing a database of stem cell donors to help blood cancer patients, for whom finding matching stem cell donors is a herculean task. At present, there are six bone marrow registries in the country, all of which are in the private sector. The registry, apart from helping find suitable and matching bone marrow donors for blood cancer patients, will also help in bringing down bone marrow transplant costs, a statement issued by the Health department on Wednesday said. Cancer prevention and treatment is one of the main components of Aardram-2 in the Nava Kerala Karma Padhati. The Kerala Cancer Registry will be linked to the bone marrow registry. The latter will function closely with advanced blood collection centres. The protocols drawn up by the World Bone Marrow Donors' Association will be followed in the selection of bone marrow donors and recipients. Since the State registry will be linked to the world association, those requiring stem cells can be matched against donors from across the globe. The possibilities of artificial intelligence and machine learning will be explored for the matching of donors and recipients and for predicting the success rate or possible complications in the post-transplant period. The MCC has already completed bone marrow transplant treatment for over 200 children. It is important to expand the pool of stem cell donors to enable many other blood cancer patients to undergo bone marrow transplant. The MCC is already conducting several awareness programmes on stem cell donation and it has been working with several blood donors' fora to find suitable stem cell donors. Published - September 04, 2024 07:57 pm IST Read Comments
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Bone marrow registry in state to be a reality soon - Times of India
Thiruvananthapuram: Health department has approved the establishment of Kerala bone marrow registry, a first in the state, said health minister Veena George on Wednesday. The registry is being developed as a pilot project in collaboration with Malabar Cancer Centre (MCC). Currently, there are significant challenges in finding suitable stem cells for leukaemia patients.The aim of this registry is to create a database to increase the availability of matching stem cells and significantly reduce the cost of bone marrow transplants, said George. Presently, there are only six bone marrow registries in the non-governmental sector in the country, she added. One of the main objectives of Aardram 2 (govt's mission for patient-friendly healthcare services) is cancer prevention and treatment. As part of this, both cancer and bone marrow registries are being established. This registry will be integrated with the Kerala cancer registry, she said. By collecting information on bone marrow donors and recipients, it will facilitate quick availability of bone marrow to eligible patients. The registry's operations will be linked with advanced blood collection centres. Donors and recipients will be selected as per guidelines of the globally-recognized World Marrow Donor Association (WMDA). Since the registry will be integrated with WMDA, patients from Kerala will be able to easily find potential donors worldwide. Artificial intelligence will be utilized to predict donor-patient matching, transplant success rates and post-transplant complications, said the minister. MCC has completed around 200 bone marrow transplants, including for children. To provide bone marrow transplant treatment to more patients, it is necessary to increase the number of donors. MCC is conducting various awareness programmes in collaboration with blood donor organizations to find suitable donors. The realization of the bone marrow donor registry will bring relief to many leukaemia patients in the state, the minister said.
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Kerala's Health Department announces plans to create a state-level bone marrow registry, aiming to improve access to stem cell transplants and reduce treatment costs for blood disorders.
Kerala Pioneers State-Level Bone Marrow Registry
In a groundbreaking move, the Kerala Health Department has announced plans to establish the first state-level bone marrow registry in India. This initiative aims to address the critical need for stem cell donors and improve treatment accessibility for patients with blood disorders and cancers 1.
Addressing the Need for Stem Cell Donors
The registry's primary goal is to create a comprehensive database of potential stem cell donors within the state. This will significantly reduce the time and cost associated with finding suitable donors for patients requiring bone marrow transplants. Currently, the search for compatible donors often extends internationally, leading to prolonged waiting periods and substantial expenses 2.
Collaboration with Existing Registries
Kerala's bone marrow registry will not operate in isolation. The state plans to integrate its database with existing national and international registries, including DATRI, the largest bone marrow registry in India. This collaboration will enhance the chances of finding suitable matches for patients across the country and potentially worldwide 1.
Implementation and Infrastructure
The registry will be established under the Kerala State Blood Transfusion Council, with a dedicated team overseeing its operations. The state government has allocated funds for the necessary infrastructure, including high-resolution HLA typing facilities. These advanced typing methods will ensure more accurate matching between donors and recipients 2.
Benefits for Patients and Healthcare System
By creating a local donor pool, the registry is expected to significantly reduce the cost of stem cell transplants. Currently, the expense of importing stem cells from international donors can reach up to ₹25 lakh. The state-level registry aims to bring this cost down to approximately ₹5 lakh, making the treatment more accessible to a broader range of patients 1.
Future Prospects and Expansion
The Kerala Health Department envisions the registry as a model for other states to follow. As the first state-level bone marrow registry in India, it has the potential to inspire similar initiatives across the country, ultimately creating a more robust national network of stem cell donors 2.
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