NBMCH gets PRP therapy machine

SANKHA GHOSH, SILIGURI. 24 JANUARY 2023:  North Bengal Medical College and  Hospital (NBMCH) in Siliguri has become the first government-run health facility to be equipped with the Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy machine. 

To ensure more patient care, a long with the PRP therapy, the physical medicine and rehabilitation department at the NBMCH also introduced hemophilia rehabilitation and occupational therapy units today.

According to the Head of the Department, Prof Parthapratim Pan, the service with the PRP therapy machine will dedicatedly start here, and which will be the first in government-run health facilities in the state.

As a concentrated source of blood plasma and autologous conditioned plasma, PRP contains several different PRP contains several different cytokines that can stimulate healing of soft tissue and joints. PRP injections are concentration of a patient's own platelets to accelerate the healing of injured tendons, ligaments, muscles and joints. 

"We are trying to transform the department into a centre of excellence. We have received the machine from the state government. Through this we can take the PRP and then inject directly into the injured or diseased body tissue.

This can be useful for osteoarthritis of the knee. We offer the visco supplementation treatment in which hyaluronic acid is injected, and now with the addition into the PRP therapy, better services can be ensured," Prof Pan said. 

The cost of the machine is around Rs 5 lakh Meanwhile, the Siliguri Hemophilia Society has donated some instruments to the hemophilia rehabilitation unit, like continuous passive mobilisers for upper limb, hydrocollator pack, medicine balls, and balance board. Experts said timely physio- therapy is compulsory for haemophilic patients. The blood doesn't clot normally for patients suffering from haemophilia, a genetic disorder and Factor VIII protein is injected to stop the bleeding. "The PM&R department aims to evaluate, diagnose and treat disability in haemophilic patients. We are hopeful that with the use of those instruments we will be able to save those people from disabilities" Prof. Pan said.

Around four such patients turn up in the department for treatment in a month, it is learnt. Dr Pan said occupational therapists help people improve their ability to perform their daily chores. 

"Our efforts will be to enable the afflicted persons to lead independent, productive and satisfying lives through training to increase strength and dexterity," he said. 

Officer on special duty for public in north Bengal Dr Susanta Kumar Roy said the new additions will be a boon for the treatment facilities at the PM&R department. Dr Roy inaugurated those facilities. However, at the same time, when around 450 patients turn up daily at the outpatient department also from far flung areas, it has been facing an acute crisis of human resources. It does not have any indoor facility.