India needs database of blood stem cell donors: Experts
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Kolkata: With only one in two million Indians finding a genetically matched donor, the country needs a database of willing blood stem cell donors to help the cause, a senior haematologist said.
"Surprisingly it's not difficult to get blood donors in our country, but we do not have enough donors for blood stem cells," haematologist and director of Tata Medical Centre in Kolkata Dr Mammen Chandy said.
"A large number of Indian patients with blood cancer and bone marrow failure who have failed standard treatments, can be cured with a haematopoietic stem cell transplant if only they had matched donors. For other patients, if a donor is found to be genetically matched from the registry, a transplant can be done and it can be life-saving.
"So, India needs to increase the number of donors on our registries," Dr Chandy said.
"Surprisingly it's not difficult to get blood donors in our country, but we do not have enough donors for blood stem cells," haematologist and director of Tata Medical Centre in Kolkata Dr Mammen Chandy said.
"A large number of Indian patients with blood cancer and bone marrow failure who have failed standard treatments, can be cured with a haematopoietic stem cell transplant if only they had matched donors. For other patients, if a donor is found to be genetically matched from the registry, a transplant can be done and it can be life-saving.
"So, India needs to increase the number of donors on our registries," Dr Chandy said.
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