Indore (Madhya Pradesh): The state’s first government-run bone bank, established at MGM Medical College in 2023, has shut down due to negligence. Patients who could have benefited from it are now left without access to essential bone transplants. The bone bank required bones to be stored at -80°C in a deep freezer. However, the freezer broke down within six months, and authorities failed to repair it in time.
As a result, 32 preserved bones, meant for bone cancer patients, congenital deformity corrections, and other surgeries, had to be disposed of. Despite being non-functional for over 1.5 years, neither the dean nor the department’s head of department (HOD) has taken steps to restore it. This has deprived many patients of crucial treatments. Dr VP Pandey, Dean, MGM Medical College, assured to talk to the HoD over the issue.
What is Bone Bank?
A bone bank functions similarly to an eye bank. Donated bones or those removed during surgeries are stored at -80°C in a deep freezer. Before preservation, bones undergo thorough antigen and infection screening and can be used within six months. These preserved bones help in treating patients with fractures, bone loss, and joint replacements. In many cases, accident victims require amputation, and the removed bones are discarded. However, a functional bone bank could preserve and utilise them for medical procedures.
