With the launch of a comprehensive sickle cell centre, the Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Centre (BMHRC) has become the first medical facility in the state to offer diagnosis and treatment of the red blood cell (RBC) disorder.
The BMHRC is a centre of competency for sickle cell anaemia designated by the Government of India.
Sickle cell disease is an inherited red blood cell disorder that results in abnormalities in the production of RBCs.
The National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission was launched by the Government of India on 27 June 2023 in Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh.The Sickle Cell Competency Centre at BMHRC will offer free services to sickle cell patients.
Screening for sickle cell disease has already started, with the necessary machines installed.
A dedicated OPD for patients suffering from the disorder will be established and staffed by specialists, including clinical haematologists and paediatricians.
Counselling services and a pain clinic will be available, along with physiotherapy for patients experiencing stiffness.
BMHRC will serve as a referral centre for 12 districts in Madhya Pradesh, with local health centres and district hospitals referring patients for further testing and treatment.
A telemedicine centre will also be launched to provide advice to patients and facilitate consultations for health centre doctors.As part of the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission, nodal officers from 17 states visited BMHRC for training and observation of the functioning of the centre.
