9-Year-Old Boy Undergoes Successful Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant at Safdarjung Hospital

New Delhi : Safdarjung Hospital has successfully performed its first pediatric bone marrow transplant on a 9-year-old boy, marking a significant milestone in pediatric healthcare. This is the first case of a bone marrow transplant performed on a child at the hospital. On Monday, the Pediatric Hematology Oncology (PHO) division of Vardhman Mahavir Medical College (VMMC) and Safdarjung Hospital (SJH) announced this achievement.

Dr. Ratan Gupta, Head of the Department, shared that the procedure was carried out free of charge on the young patient, who was suffering from high-risk Hodgkin lymphoma. The transplant team was led by Dr. Prashant Prabhakar. After the boy underwent conditioning chemotherapy, an autologous transplant was performed on August 2. Following the successful procedure, the patient was discharged on September 7 and will be under close observation for the next two months.

Dr. Vandana Talwar, Medical Superintendent of the hospital, stated that this successful transplant brings new hope to many children who require bone marrow transplants, especially those who cannot afford the costly procedure.

Under the leadership of Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr. Atul Goel, a dedicated Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) unit was established at the hospital in 2021. The hospital administration and medical team, guided by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, plan to further develop this crucial service. Prior to this, the hospital had successfully performed a bone marrow transplant on a 45-year-old woman last year.

This breakthrough in pediatric BMT at Safdarjung Hospital is expected to pave the way for more affordable and accessible treatment options for children with severe hematological conditions.