Bhubaneswar: The Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital, faculty of medicine of Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (SOA), has initiated steps to set up an advanced Rheumatology Centre to promote research and provide patients with the latest treatment regimen.
Prof. Pusparaj Samantasinhar, Medical Superintendent of IMS and SUM Hospital, said at a news conference on Monday that the institute is the first centre of medical science in Odisha which has been permitted to start DM course in Rheumatology with two seats.
“Rheumatism is a disease which has been affecting a large number of people with five to ten out of 1,000 people afflicted by the problem and there is a need to create awareness about it and its management,” Head of Department of Immunology and Rheumatology Prof. Pradipta Sekhar Patro said.
Prof. Patro, who studied at Sanjay Gandhi Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, where advanced treatment for rheumatoid arthritis is available, said the proposed centre would be patterned after the Lucknow institute.
“The Immunology and Rheumatology department in our hospital has emerged as the leading centre for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in Odisha and patients are being extended efficient treatment at low cost,” Prof. Patro said, adding that the hospital boasts of highly qualified doctors and is equipped with the most sophisticated equipment.
It also has an Immunology and Auto Antibody Lab for blood testing at cheaper cost. Earlier, blood samples had to be sent to labs outside Odisha, leading to higher costs, Prof. Patro pointed out.
Doctors at the Rheumatology OPD in IMS and SUM Hospital have been treating patients by using Musculoskeletal Ultrasound. Other facilities like rehabilitation therapy, physiotherapy and occupational therapy are available under the same roof.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease of the joints which requires prolonged treatment from a trained rheumatologist. But
Lack of awareness about rheumatoid arthritis — a disease of the joints which requires prolonged treatment from a trained rheumatologist — has been resulting in patients seeking treatment from other medical sources without much benefit, Dr Patro observed.
Problems in the joint, Prof. Patro informed, mostly occurred due to accumulation of fluid in the joints and could occur at any age affecting even children.
Majority of rheumatoid arthritis cases are women.
“It is necessary to shun smoking, alcohol, junk food and avoid obesity,” advised Prof. Patro, adding that it’s always better to get treatment early in case of arthritis.
