CHANDIGARH,23.09.23-The Departments of Hematology, Clinical Hematology & Medical Oncology, Pediatric-Hematology/Oncology Unit, and Transfusion Medicine at PGIMER, Chandigarh are jointly organizing an international conference on blood diseases called PGI-Hem-Onc-Fest from September 21-24, 2023. The meeting is being attended by over 500 delegates from across India as well as by foreign delegates and faculty from the USA, UK, Canada, and Sri Lanka. On the first two days of the meeting, successful workshops were organized to train pathologists and nurses in the latest techniques of diagnosing and caring for patients with complex blood diseases. These included tests for blood clotting, DNA analysis by DD-PCR, and sequencing and analysis of cells by flow cytometry and genetic testing. The Prof. B.K. Aikat Oration was also held on the 22nd of September, which was delivered by Dr. K. Krishnan from Tenessee, USA.
On Saturday (23rd September), the conference was inaugurated by the honorable Director PGI, Professor Vivek Lal, who also released the PGI Textbook of Hematology. This unique book is a collective effort of doctors associated with PGI Chandigarh and covers all aspects of blood disorders. Written from an Indian perspective, the authoritative text covers the entire range of common and rare diseases of blood, bone marrow, spleen, and other tissues, including their diagnosis and treatment.
In the function, Professor Lal praised the tremendous advancements made in the medical care of patients with serious blood diseases like blood cancer, thalassemia and hemophilia, due to the hard-work of doctors, nurses and technicians and reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to continue to serve and strive to cure all, including those from the weakest and poorest sections of society.
At the function, Dr. Navin Khattry from Tata Hospital, Mumbai, discussed the post-mortem of a lady with a rare tumor of the lymph glands. Later, Dr. Ganesh Kumar from AIIMS, New Delhi discussed methods for labs to give high-quality blood reports and Dr. Prantar, former Head of Hematology at Medical College, Kolkata, discussed how gene therapy is transforming the lives of patients with sickle cell disease. Dr. Nidhi Jain from Surat discussed the treatment of a rare anemia called PNH, Dr. Diksha from Artemis Hospital, Delhi explained new techniques to diagnose genetic diseases, while other speakers talked about better ways to diagnose bleeding after delivery in women, treatment of blood cancers, and how to take care of patients with side effects of blood transfusions.
Other prominent speakers included Dr. R.P.S. Bajwa (USA), Dr. Joseph John (CMC Ludhiana), Dr. Anand Prakash (St. Johns Medical College, Bengaluru), Dr. Prashant Chhabra (AIIMS Bathinda) , Dr. Hari Menon (Bengaluru) and Dr. Sangeeta Mudaliar.