Surat to get Rs 90 cr stem cell hospital

Stem CellThe city has taken a major leap in medical field. A stem cell hospital to be developed at a cost of Rs 90 crore will become operational within three years. 

The entire project will be undertaken and financed by the government health department and Rs 30 crore will be released this year as the first installment. The 160-bed hospital will also carry out extensive research on stem cell.The seven-storey building will come up adjacent to the Cancer Research Centre in New Civil Hospital campus. The posts of microbiologist, pathologist, paediatrician and administrator have already been approved and process of recruitments is underway.

"We have already started work for constructing the laboratory. The entire project is going on at a good speed," said M K Vadel, superintendent of NCH.

San Diego, California-based Global Institute of Stem Cell Therapy and Research will provide the necessary technical assistance, train the local staff and assist in research activity."We are working on the design of the project which is the in final stage and once the grant is received we would start the construction work full steam. The project is being developed in Surat keeping the health issues related to tribals," said Vadel. 

Sickle-cell anaemia being a prevalent problem in the tribal belt of south Gujarat, research in using stem cell technology can help in controlling it, experts believe."Currently, the hospital will focus largely on sickle-cell anemia and spinal cord problems," added Vadel.

The NCH authorities are yet to get details about the treatment charges for citizens. The project will be another major development at the Surat NCH after initiation of leptospirorsis laboratory and cancer research.

(Source: Times Of India)