Capacity building in stem cell transplantation for children and youngadults with transplant-treatable diseases in rural Madhya Pradesh India: socialentrepreneurship meets academia

摘要

Stem cell transplantations (SCTs) in India have increased exponentially, which hasimproved survival in hematologic cancers, and allogeneic transplants have improvedsurvival in transplant-treatable disorders. Greater progress in providing SCTs hasoccurred in metropolitan areas because insurance coverage and financial resourcesare more readily available there than in rural areas. In India, there are still manyunderserved areas where per capita income is US$800 to US$1100 per year. In thoseareas, the stigma and fear of transmission of cancers and hematologic disorders addto the many challenges in providing SCTs for all who need them. In addition, HLAmatching and blood typing face financial challenges. Sri Aurobindo Medical Collegeand Postgraduate Institute (SAIMS) in Indore is located in one such area, covering22 districts of Madhya Pradesh. It has a hematology specialty department and apostgraduate residential program in hemato-oncology. The Teenage and Young AdultCancer Foundation (TYAcan) is a nonprofit organization working in the sameregion.