Mumbai: In a major step toward strengthening paediatric cancer care within the public healthcare system, Mumbai’s civic-run Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital, popularly known as Sion Hospital, is set to quadruple its bone marrow transplant (BMT) capacity in the coming months.
Capacity to Jump from 24 to 100 Transplants Annually
Currently performing an average of 24 BMTs a year, the hospital will increase its transplant capacity to approximately 100 annually, said Dr Mohan Joshi, the hospital’s dean. The number of BMT beds will be expanded from two to eight over the next three months.
“This expansion will significantly reduce waiting times for critical transplants, especially for underprivileged children suffering from blood cancers and genetic disorders,” Dr Joshi stated.
Relieving Burden on Overcrowded Centres
Due to limited infrastructure, patients were often referred to overburdened centres such as Wadia Hospital and Tata Memorial Hospital. The expansion at Sion is expected to reduce dependency on these institutions, especially for families from low-income areas like Dharavi.
Pioneers in Public BMT
Launched in 2015, Sion Hospital became the first civic institution in Mumbai to offer bone marrow transplants. Despite a brief pause during the pandemic, the hospital has since resumed full operations and completed 104 paediatric transplants with a reported success rate of 93%, according to Dr Radha Ghiladhial, head of paediatrics.
Critical, Cost-Effective Lifeline for Children
Bone marrow transplantation is often the only curative option for conditions such as thalassemia major and certain blood cancers. The treatment involves intense chemotherapy, donor matching, and weeks of sterile post-transplant care in isolation.
“In private hospitals, such procedures cost ₹25–30 lakh, making them unaffordable for most. At Sion, transplants are offered nearly free of cost, with families paying as little as ₹30,000–₹35,000 thanks to government schemes and donor support,” Dr Joshi said.
Success Story: A New Life for Imran
Eight-year-old Imran Shaikh from Dharavi is one of the many children whose lives were transformed through Sion’s BMT programme. Diagnosed with thalassemia major at age two, he underwent a successful transplant in 2023 after a six-month wait.
“Sion Hospital gave my son his life back,” said his mother, Fatema. “They supported us every step of the way.”
Expansion Funded by Philanthropy
The upgrade is being fully funded by the MKH Foundation, which signed an MoU with the hospital. The foundation will finance advanced infrastructure, including HEPA-filtered isolation rooms and laminar airflow systems—critical for infection control during transplants.
Setting a New Standard in Public Healthcare
Once complete, the upgraded BMT facility will enhance Sion Hospital’s role as a model for public paediatric transplant care in India, ensuring equitable access to lifesaving treatment for the most vulnerable.
