New Delhi’s first specialised multiple sclerosis (MS) treatment centre was inaugurated by the Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit at the Vidyasagar Institute of Mental Health, Neuro & Allied Sciences (VIMHANS) in the presence of the patients, caregivers and doctors.
The MS center at VIMHANS would reportedly be North India’s first dedicated MS-care centre where patients will get comprehensive management by a team of experts, including neurologists, psychologists, psychiatrists, physical and occupational therapists, urologists, and radiologists, all under the same roof.
Dikshit said, “This dedicated multiple sclerosis treatment centre will prove to be a milestone in the way MS is managed in India and would be a shining example of how the patients of MS should be cared for. The Delhi Government on its part will ensure that all help is extended to VIMHANS.”
An MoU was also signed between VIMHANS and the Multiple Sclerosis Society of India (MSSI) for sharing of resources and supporting each other through dissemination of knowledge. Under this, MSSI will be able to utilise the healthcare facilities of VIMHANS while the hospital, on the other hand, will be able to get access to a diverse MS patient pool from across India.
“The treatment and management of multiple sclerosis requires a multi-disciplinary approach and hence a centre like this which brings all the management together is extremely important,” said Dr Shamsher Dwivedee, Sr Consultant Neurologist, VIMHANS. “Until now, MS patients had to manage the disease through multiple doctor visits and counseling that lasted weeks. Now, the same can be completed in the span of a single day.”
Bipasha Gupta, Spokesperson, MSSI, said, “MS care is grossly neglected in the country because of which the patients have to suffer even more. This new MS treatment centre at Delhi with its new concept will help accommodate seven medical professionals together at the same time to discuss the condition of the patient and find solutions. This will help the patient avoid a lot of hassles and save him the days wasted in visiting different medical experts from different divisions of a hospital.”
Dr Dwivedee said that because MS patients are sensitive to summer heat, VIMHANS will provide them with a free air-conditioned shuttle service to the hospital and offer discounted rates for various tests. The MS treatment centre will also help gauge data on the number of multiple sclerosis patients who need special care in India.
EH News Bureau
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