For the past 32 years, Ruby General Hospital and Ruby Cancer Centre have offered top-notch multispecialty clinical care. The most cutting-edge radiation therapy machines were first introduced in Eastern India by Ruby Cancer Centre in 2014 (Clinac iX with FFF Technology) and 2024 (Varian TrueBeam 3.0). Additionally, the only hospital in Kolkata with a digital PET CT scan is Ruby Cancer Centre.

A highly advanced, world-class Stem Cell and Cellular Therapy Transplantation Unit, also known as a Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) Unit, was inaugurated by Dr. Sourav Dutta, Director, and Mrs. Ruby Dutta in front of Founder Chairman, Dr. Kamal K. Dutta, marking a significant advancement in hemato-oncology and regenerative medicine. To address the growing burden of complex blood disorders, this new facility is built to meet international standards of care. It is equipped to provide comprehensive, life-saving treatments for adults and children.

The key features are:

• Six specialized isolation rooms with advanced, customized HVAC systems and a dedicated High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filtration facility to reduce the risk of infection.

• Automatic doors that are hermetically sealed and touch-free.

• All restrooms have plumbing fixtures with touch sensors.

• Water facilities with complete RO and UV treatment.

• Availability of dialysis, as well as all cutting-edge critical care equipment and support systems in the unit.

• The unit has an integrated, state-of-the-art stem cell apheresis room that can store stem cell products.

• The availability of cutting-edge blood center facilities and in-house blood irradiation.

• Ante rooms where family members and pediatric patients can stay.

Comprehensive Care Spectrum: Both autologous and allogeneic transplants, including matched sibling, unrelated, and haploidentical transplants, will be handled by the facility.

Advanced Cellular Therapies: The facility is built to accommodate cutting-edge procedures like specialized stem cell treatments and CAR-T cell therapy.

Dedicated Specialized Team: With a full backup of Ruby General Hospital’s multispecialty clinical team, the unit is staffed by a multidisciplinary team of highly skilled and experienced oncologists, hematologists, nurses, and technicians.

A Revolutionary Step in Patient Care: Patients with sickle cell disease, leukemia, lymphoma, and aplastic anemia who had previously had little access to such cutting-edge care now have new hope thanks to this unit. A comprehensive treatment experience is guaranteed by the addition of specialized apheresis facilities and an independent, self-sufficient unit.

In front of Ruby General Hospital‘s first bone marrow transplant patient from 2024, Prof. Dr. Tuphan Kanti Dolai, a senior haematologist and bone marrow transplant specialist, highlighted several facts and misnomers during the press conference. In addition to the aforementioned, Mrs. Ruby Dutta congratulated Ms. Srijani Sahu, a Thalassaemia patient who excelled in her Higher Secondary Exams and hopes to become a psychologist. Ruby Cancer Care & Research Foundation declared that it will provide her with financial support for her academic pursuits over the next three years.

A very special case of Dr. Oindrila Biswas (MS, MCh, Surgical Oncologist with excellent surgical outcome) involving a young man from Tripura diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma, which required bone tumor excision and reconstruction—a very complex surgery—is another crucial highlight of the event. Previously, amputation would have been the course of treatment; however, with appropriate and carefully planned surgeries, limb salvage and reconstruction can now be accomplished with a customized mega prosthesis. Mr. Sauptik Bhattacharjee, a 17-year-old IIT aspirant, was discharged last week and was present to share his experience.

Priyanka Dutta