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Stem cell transplantation in India

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 42, pages S81–S84 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

This paper outlines the BMT activity in India and describes in some detail the transplant program at the Christian Medical College, Vellore. In September 2005, data from six transplant centers in India were collected and a total of 1540 transplants have been performed in a country of over one billion population. At the center in Vellore, from October 1986 to December 2006, a total of 626 transplants have been performed in 595 patients, with 28 patients having more than one transplant. Thalassemia accounted for a third of these transplants: the country has over 20 million carriers and 10 000 children are born each year with thalassemia major. The average cost of allogeneic BMT in India is around $15 000–20 000, and this is considerably lower than the cost in the West. India needs to develop more transplant centers with adequately trained personnel, as there is great need for them. Improvements in the economy mean that more patients can afford this treatment.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Drs Alok Srivastava, Vikram Mathews, Biju George and Auro Vishwabandya; Christian Medical College Hospital, Vellore. We are also greatful to the following transplant centers providing data in September 2005: All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi; Apollo Hospital, Chennai; Gujarat Cancer Research Cente; Ahmedabad. Jaslok Hospital, Mumbai; Kidwai Memorial Hospital, Bangalore; Research and Referral Hospital of the Armed Forces, New Delhi; Sahayadri Hospital, Pune; Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute, Lucknow; Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai.

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  1. The Christian Medical College, Vellore, India

    M Chandy

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Correspondence to M Chandy.

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Chandy, M. Stem cell transplantation in India. Bone Marrow Transplant 42 (Suppl 1), S81–S84 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/bmt.2008.124

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