Minister inaugurates department of hepatology at SGPGI

THERE WAS A NEED TO HAVE SUCH A HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IN UP THAT NO ONE RESIDING HERE HAS TO GO TO OTHER STATES FOR TREATMENT, SAID KUMAR

LUCKNOW: The department of Hepatology was formally inaugurated at liver transplant unit, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS), by minister of medical education, finance and parliamentary affairs, Suresh Khanna on Tuesday.

Director PGI professor R K Dhiman said it was a big achievement to have a fullfledged department of Hepatology . He said there was a need to have a sustainable liver transplant programme. Alok Kumar, principal secretary, medical education said there was a need to have such a healthcare system in Uttar Pradesh that no one residing here has to go to other states for treatment . He also said that the state government was always there to support the institute in terms of aid, but the institute has also to think of certain ways of self-sustainability.

Professor SK Sarin, director, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, New Delhi, through video conferencing. He spoke on the need to have a full-fledged department of hepatology in the state of Uttar Pradesh as the burden of liver disease due to hepatitis B and C, alcohol and fatty liver is increasing. Fatty liver leads to diabetes, hypertension, gallstones and cancer liver. The collective efforts of department of gastroenterology, surgical gastroenterology and hepatology will lead to comprehensive program for the prevention and the treatment of chronic liver disease. Minister Suresh Khanna said,” The PGI should provide patient services, besides doing research and imparting education. ”Professor Rajan Saxena, head of the department, Centre for Hepatobiliary Disease and Transplantation proposed the vote of thanks.