Cuttack SCB Medical will resume bone marrow transplant unit soon: Odisha govt to HC

In a significant assurance to the Orissa High Court, the state government on Friday confirmed that the bone marrow transplant (BMT) unit at SCB Medical College and Hospital (SCBMCH), Cuttack, will resume soon. It will reportedly resume under the guidance of a retired expert acting as an honorary mentor.

The submission was made during the hearing of a petition seeking urgent revival of SCBMCH’s haematology department, which has remained non-functional since the retirement of its chief transplant physician in February this year, reported The Times of India.

Notably, the last transplant performed was the first paediatric allogeneic transplant in the state, marking a milestone before the unit came to a halt. Further, SCB is Odisha’s only public facility offering free transplants.

Professor’s Exit Stalled Services Despite Trained Faculty

Appearing virtually before a division bench of Justices S.K. Sahoo and V. Narasingh, Health Secretary Aswathy S. explained that while the department currently has one associate professor and two assistant professors who assisted in past procedures, they lack the confidence to perform transplants independently.

To bridge this gap, the government has roped in Dr. Prabodh Kumar Das, a retired haematology expert from AIIMS, who has agreed to serve as an honorary mentor. He will oversee transplant procedures and provide direct hands-on training to SCB’s existing faculty.

The court was informed that instructions have already been issued to the SCBMCH superintendent to coordinate with Dr. Das for the resumption of transplant services.

Govt Plans SOPs, National Tie-Ups for Continuity

In a broader move to safeguard specialised services post-retirement of experts, the health department is now drafting standard operating procedures (SOPs), making mentorship by senior professors mandatory in key medical departments.

A committee has been set up to finalise these guidelines. Additionally, the state has proposed institutional collaborations with top transplant centres across India to facilitate training, procedural support, and long-term sustainability.