BHUBANESWAR: IN a first for the State, Head of Clinical Haematology Department of SCB Medical College Professor Rabindra Kumar Jena has been elected president of Indian Society of Haematology.
The only person from Odisha to be assigned the position, Prof Jena was recently nominated by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (Blood Cell-NHM Division) as a member of two important panels.
He was placed in the expert committee for preparation of Guidelines for Haemophilia as well as on the panel which will prepare the National Policy on Thalassaemia.
For the first time, the Centre is preparing a national policy on thalassaemia as well as a
protocol for Haemophilia.Prof Jena was also part of the panel that prepared Guidelines for Prevention and Control of Haemoglobinopathies (Thalassaemia, Sickle Cell disease) in India.
Since Prof Jena has closely worked with international haematological societies like American Society of Haematology and European Haematology Association, his nomination to the Indian body is expected to result in technology transfer to the country.
The US and European societies are also keen to offer short-term training courses for junior haematologists of the country.Prof Jena is the founder member and secretary of Eastern Haematology Group which is involved in reaching out to eastern Indian states with latest development in hematological diseases.