In a first-of-its-kind move, the SAS Nagar civil hospital in Phase 6 has tied up with Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) to screen pregnant women for thalassaemia.
Thalassaemia is a disorder caused by weakening of red blood cells. Under this project, samples of thalassaemic suspects were sent to the PGIMER on Wednesday.
As of now, the facility will be provided only to pregnant woman visiting the hospital.
Earlier, the civil hospital did not have the facility and patients had to visit PGIMER or any other hospital for treatment.
Under the new project, all pregnant women will be tested at the civil hospital and if they are suspected to have thalassaemia, their samples will be sent to PGIMER by the hospital authorities.
Senior medical officer at the SAS Nagar civil hospital Dr Andesh Kang said, “The project is the brain child of Punjab state health secretary Vini Mahajan. The project aims to provide better medical facilities to patients. We conduct two types of tests and if the woman is found to be a suspect of thalassaemia, we will send her samples to PGIMER.”
The hospital intends to extend this facility for all thalassaemia suspects in future. Dr Kang added, “Once we get the results, we will inform the relatives of the patient about the disease. The husband of the woman will also be tested. Counselling and medical treatment will be then be provided.”
{{/usCountry}}The hospital intends to extend this facility for all thalassaemia suspects in future. Dr Kang added, “Once we get the results, we will inform the relatives of the patient about the disease. The husband of the woman will also be tested. Counselling and medical treatment will be then be provided.”
{{/usCountry}}Hospital authorities said on an average, they were nearly 20 patients who needed to be screened for thalassaemia.
They said the move would make the process less cumbersome, as pregnant women had to earlier shuttle between different hospitals for treatment.