CMC, Vardhman to build rehab centre

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, March 30

Christian Medical College along with Vardhman Group is building a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Centre, at Brown road, Ludhiana.

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR) is a branch of modern (allopathic) system of medicine that improves functional ability and quality of life to those with disabilities.

SP Oswal, Managing Director of Vardhman Group, mentioned that there is an urgent need for starting these services to cater to the people from Ludhiana city, Punjab and other states. The center hopes to bring in all rehabilitation services such as physiatrist (Rehabilitation physician), physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapists, counselor, social worker and orthotic and prosthetics facilities.

Dr Abraham G Thomas, Director CMC, Ludhiana, said that although a department of the PMR was started in the year 2008 but there was no comprehensive center attached to it. The department has been providing services to stroke patients, spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, amputees and in patients with bleeding problems lime hemophilia. The proposed PMR center will be built as a joint venture of CMC Ludhiana and the Vardhman group.

Dr Santosh Mathangi, Head of the PMR department, mentioned over the last eight years he has treated more than 3,000 children with disabilities, nearly 1,800 stroke patients and 500 spinal cord injury (SCI) patients.

The department also has provided more than 5,000 supporting devices in the form of calipers, walkers, elbow crutches and wheelchairs free of cost to poor patients.

Three day workshop

Christian Medical College Hospital has taken a step forward in imparting training in Laparoscopic Surgery by organising 47thSkill Course of Association of Minimal Access Surgeons of India (AMASI).

The three-day-programme will begin from March 31 to April 2. The academic programme will be attended by young surgeons and postgraduates in surgery and obstetrics and gynecology from all over the country.

The course will be conducted by the most distinguished faculty of AMASI and will consist of lectures and training sessions simulating surgical procedures. Live surgery workshop will also be conducted on the first two days in which the surgery performed in an operation theatre will be relayed in the hospital auditorium with facilities for the delegates and operating surgeons to interact with each other during the surgery.