Our Correspondent
Palampur August 25
The super-speciality department of rheumatology has come up at Government Medical College, Tanda, which deals with arthritis and auto-immune rheumatic diseases.
Rheumatology is a new subject in medical science in India with limited super-specialists.
Rheumatic diseases are affecting both young and old, but most of the cases go undiagnosed because of acute shortage of doctors not only in Himachal, but also in other states.
A meeting of doctors was held here yesterday to review diseases causing various types of arthritis.
Over 50 doctors from Kangra district attended the meeting. There were three speakers — two adult rheumatologists and one paediatric rheumatologist — who addressed the gathering.
Dr Avinash Sharma from Tanda medical college, who is a super-specialist in diseases affecting children, is credited with the construction of the new department. He described how children were affected by this disease. Timely medical intervention could save them.
Dr Isha Sood, a rheumatologist who works in Mumbai, talked about several diseases, which could mimic arthritis. She presented two cases, where patients were in a serious condition, but cured.
Dr Anshul Goel, who qualified from Delhi, has started the super-speciality department Vivekananda Hospital, Palampur. He has treated hundreds of patients in visiting Kangra, Hamirpur, Mandi and Pathankot districts.