Integrated oncology services at NBMCH from early next year

SNS SERVICE SILIGURI, 6 DECEMBER 21 : An integrated service on oncology is set to start at the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital (NBMCH) early next year. Five departments—

medicine, surgery, paediatrics, gynecology and ENT--will be part of the service, it is learnt.

The officer on special duty for public health in north Bengal, Dr Susanta Kumar Roy, addressed a meeting with NBMCH authorities to discuss the infrastructure development for the proposed service today

Around 50 patients suffering from cancer turn up at the NBMCH every day, sources said.

"The integrated service on oncology will be introduced at the IPGMER & SSKM and the NBMCH. This will bring all the departments concerned under one umbrella. The Outpatient Department will be at the department of Oncology, for which rooms have been identified. The departments have been divided for indoor facilities," Dr Roy said.

There will be separate beds for surgery (30), medicine oncology (15), paediatrics (15), ENT (15) and gynecolgy (12).

"We have fixed a timeline to complete the infrastructure within 15 January next year. We would like to kick start the facility from 5 February. The training for physicians, paediatricians and others will start on 12 February in Mumbai," he added.

The NBMCH will tie up with the Kolkata Medical College and Hospital to prepare a treatment regime on leukemia Some latest instruments like flow cytometry and toumour markers will be brought.

A person may have a blood test that includes a complete blood count to check the blood's components by flow cytometry to establish a diagnosis. The flow cytometry can also detect cell substances that help inform treatment options and outcomes, doctors said.

For the integrated service, 13 new senior residents and three faculties will be deputed--five doctors will be posted for medicine oncology, five at the surgery department and three more at radiation oncology, it is learnt.

According to the existing strength of the oncology department, there are eight faculties, two radiation safety officers, and seven radiotherapy technologists.

The state government has already tied up with the Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai for a 100-bed cancer hospital at the NBMCH.

Meanwhile, Dr Roy said 20 more beds will be added to the critical care unit. At present there are 10 beds there.

PGT demonstration

As part of ongoing protests, academic junior residents of the NBMCH staged a demonstration over the alleged delay in holding counseling sessions in NEET-post graduate-2021 today.