Bhubaneswar, May 30: The Odisha state chapter of Indian Society of Blood Transfusion and Immunohematology (ISBTI) was inaugurated here on Friday at a two -day conference underlining the importance of transfusion medicine in the modern healthcare system.
Eminent experts in the field of transfusion medicine who attended the inaugural event stressed the need to ensure that no one died for lack of blood.
The new chapter was inaugurated in the presence of Odisha's minister of state for handloom, textile, and handicrafts, Pradeep Bal Samanta, and senior leaders of ISBTI.
A Continuing Medical Education (CME) program on the subject was also being held simultaneously. The event has been organised by the Post-Graduate Department of Transfusion Medicine of the Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital, Campus-1 here, Campus-2 at Phulnakhara and SUM Ultimate Medicare in association with the state chapter of ISBTI.
Dr. Yudhvir Singh, National President of ISBTI, Dr. T.R.Raina, Deputy President (Motivational), ISBTI, Dr. Sangeeta Pathak, Secretary General, ISBTI, Prof. (Dr.) Pusparaj Samantasinghar, Medical Superintendent, Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital and Prof. (Dr.) Girijanandini Kanungo, Head of the Department of Transfusion Medicine, IMS and SUM Hospital, addressed the gathering.
Minister Bal Samanta said transfusion medicine was playing a crucial role in modern healthcare as new technology was ensuring the safety of blood being provided to patients.
He praised the Department of Transfusion Medicine of IMS and SUM Hospital, which was setting new benchmarks in the field in Odisha. The hospital had become an important centre in eastern India in the field of healthcare and research, he said, adding the initiatives taken by the hospital had significantly improved blood safety standards.
Dr. Yudhvir Singh said the ISBTI had been set up in 1972, a year after the Indo-Pak war, when the need for blood came into focus as the injured soldiers were treated at hospitals in north India.
"Our mission is to make 100 per cent blood availability for patients," he said, adding that IMS and SUM Hospital should become a role model in the field for the entire state.
Dr. Raina said ISBTI's motto was to ensure nationwide voluntary blood donation. "We aim to ensure that blood should wait for the patient at Blood Banks and not the other way round," he said.
Dr. Pathak said that modern technology was helping erect an impregnable wall of safety in the field of blood transfusion around patients requiring critical care.
Prof. (Dr.) Samantasinghar said IMS and SUM Hospital had been in the forefront of modern healthcare practices, having conducted three CAR-T procedures till now, besides more than 100 bone marrow transplantations. "The hospital had undertaken one of the first three CAR-T procedures to have been conducted in India," he said.
Prof. (Dr.) Kanungo said transfusion medicine had become an integral part of modern clinical practice. The scientific program being held as part of the event was designed to explore recent advances in immunohematology, cutting edge cellular therapies and voluntary non-remunerated blood donation, she said.
Dr. N. Tulsiram, Organising Secretary for the event, proposed the vote of thanks.
