Punjab Signs MoU with CMC Ludhiana to Launch First Public Sector Bone Marrow Transplant Centre
Chandigarh, June 10: In a landmark initiative aimed at transforming tertiary healthcare in Punjab, the state government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Christian Medical College (CMC), Ludhiana, to establish Punjab’s first public sector Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) facility.
The move is a critical step toward providing affordable and advanced medical care, especially for children suffering from thalassemia, a life-threatening blood disorder that currently requires lifelong blood transfusions.
Free HLA Typing and Subsidized Transplants for Children
The proposed BMT facility will offer free HLA typing and subsidized allogeneic stem cell transplants to eligible patients, focusing primarily on children under 12 years. According to Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Balbir Singh, this curative treatment will eliminate the need for recurring transfusions and offer a new lease of life to patients.
“This partnership is not just about building a facility—it’s about giving new hope to families battling thalassemia and other hematologic diseases,” said Dr. Balbir Singh during the MoU signing ceremony.
Bridging a Critical Healthcare Gap
Currently, no government medical college in Punjab has an operational bone marrow transplant unit, forcing patients to travel to private or out-of-state hospitals at high personal expense. The collaboration with CMC Ludhiana—widely regarded for its expertise in clinical hematology and stem cell transplantation—is expected to fill this critical gap.
The new centre will:
- Reduce the economic burden on patients
- Offer curative treatment closer to home
- Strengthen local follow-up care systems
- Act as a training and capacity-building hub for healthcare professionals in Punjab
Accessible, Equitable Healthcare for All
The BMT facility will be especially beneficial for patients from rural and economically disadvantaged regions of Punjab. By integrating with the state health system, the centre will ensure streamlined referrals, follow-up, and post-transplant care, which are essential to positive outcomes.
Dr. Balbir Singh emphasized that local availability of BMT services would significantly increase treatment uptake and reduce dropouts caused by logistical or financial challenges.
Strong Institutional Collaboration
The MoU signing witnessed the presence of key medical and administrative dignitaries including:
- Kumar Rahul, Principal Secretary Health
- Dr. Hatinder Kaur, Director Health and Family Welfare
- Dr. Balwinder Singh, Director, National Health Mission, Punjab
- Dr. Allen Joseph, Medical Superintendent, CMC Ludhiana
- Dr. M Joseph John, Head of Clinical Hematology and BMT at CMC
- Dr. Vishal Garg, Additional Project Director, PSACS
- Dr. Sunita Devi, Joint Director, BTS, PSACS
- Dr. Rishav Aggarwal, Deputy Director STI, PSACS
Their collective commitment will be instrumental in ensuring the timely operationalization of the BMT facility and maintenance of transparent, need-based patient care.
Long-Term Impact: Building a Transplant Ecosystem in Punjab
Beyond patient treatment, the facility is designed to enhance Punjab’s transplant ecosystem by:
- Developing clinical and technical skills in public sector institutions
- Creating a pipeline of trained personnel for future transplant centres
- Fostering research and innovation in stem cell therapy
This initiative is in line with the government’s broader goal of strengthening tertiary and specialized healthcare under the Ayushman Bharat and National Health Mission frameworks.