Shoulder, stem cell clinic opened at government super-speciality hospital

CHENNAI: A shoulder clinic and a stem cell clinic were inaugurated at the Tamil Nadu Government Multi Super Specialty Hospital, Omandurar Estate on Anna Salai, here on Tuesday. Officials said this would make Tamil Nadu the first State in south India to provide a free of cost stem cell therapy in a government hospital.

The two new clinics will function under the Department of Arthroscopy and Sports Injury. “It (stem cell therapy) is a joint saving procedure to prevent arthritis and regrowth of cartilage, which many youngsters suffer. Many states do not have proper access to the medical facilities. But, Tamil Nadu is one State where people have crossed the threshold of accessibility and now it is striving towards full satisfaction of the citizens,” Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan said at the inaugural.

“Tamil Nadu is the first State in the South and the third in the country to provide these facilities free of cost. The eroded bone marrow will be refilled in the stem cell therapy increasing the life of the patient,” said Health Minister C Vijayabaskar

While the stem cell clinic will be open all days, the shoulder clinic, which will handle cases like shoulder dislocation, would be open on Tuesdays and Fridays between 10 am and 1 pm. The minister said the number of working days would be increased depending on number of patients.