Cuttack: The bone marrow transplant unit at the Haematology department of SCB Medical College and Hospital (SCBMCH) here has been closed for over a year due to absence of trained doctors.
The unit faced a crisis after the state government suspended two of its doctors in connection with disproportionate asset cases a year ago. The crisis at the bone marrow transplant unit dealt a blow to several poor patients.
SCBMCH was the first state-run health institute in the country to open a bone marrow transplant unit in 2014. The state government had procured several state-of-the-art equipment for the unit.
According to sources, as many as 55 patients had undergone bone marrow transplantation at the unit between April 2014 and November 2017.
However, the unit plunged into a crisis after Haematology department head professor Rabindra Kumar Jena and assistant professor Sudha Sethi were arrested by the Vigilance sleuths in connection with DA cases December 13 last year. It was alleged that Jena and Sethi had links with some overseas pharmaceutical companies.
The state government also suspended the duo soon after they were released on bail. Jena was told to report to the SCBMCH principal’s office while Sethi was sent to the office of Director of Medical Education and Training (DMET).
Subsequently, the unit was virtually shut down. Expressing concern over the issue, some patients had urged the Chief Minister and the Health secretary to arrange treatment for them.
Raju Agrawal, a patient from neighbouring Jharkhand, has been waiting for a year to undergo bone marrow transplantation. He had written to the CM and Health secretary to intervene in the issue.
Similarly, Khalil Muhammad of Pipli in Puri district and Dusmanta Sahu of Jharsuguda have been facing problems to avail treatment.
Even, Rabindra Rana, who had undergone bone marrow transplantation at the unit in November 2017, died recently in the absence of follow-up treatment, sources said.
The Orissa High Court has also sought a reply from the Health department on the issue by taking up a petition filed by some of the patients.
When contacted, SCBMCH superintendent PK Devta said Hepatology department professor Umesh Patra has been asked to look after Haematology department. Senior doctors like Rajiv Nayak and Namita Mahapatra have been told to assist Patra, Devta added.
However, the SCBMCH superintendent remained tightlipped about the functioning of bone marrow transplant unit.
Meanwhile, insiders claimed that Patra and other doctors lack the kind of expertise to run the unit.
Health Minister Pratap Jena said there are certain legal issues with regard to the unit.
However, some social activists blamed the state government for crisis at the unit. “The state government has reinstated the two doctors who had earlier faced suspension and are drawing salaries without work. The authorities concerned are yet to take any step to resume healthcare facilities at the bone marrow transplant unit,” said social activist Achyuta Kumar Sahu.
PNN