Sion Hospital to open city’s first civic bone marrow unit for kids battling leukaemia, thalassemia and other deadly blood disorders
Construction work at the Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) unit at Sion Hospital’s Dharavi branch. Pics/Ritika Gondhalekar
In what promises to be a landmark step for public healthcare in Mumbai, Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital (Sion Hospital) is set to open its much-awaited Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) Unit for children at its Dharavi branch, the Eknath Gaikwad Urban Health Centre.
With nearly 60 per cent of construction complete, hospital authorities confirmed that the facility will begin admitting its first patients by December 2025 or January 2026. The new pediatric BMT unit, among the first in any municipal hospital in Mumbai, is being developed to treat children suffering from serious blood disorders such as thalassemia, leukaemia, lymphoma, and aplastic anaemia. Once operational, it will dramatically improve access to advanced haematology and transplant care for underprivileged children who depend on public hospitals.
“At the current one-bedded facility at Sion Hospital, we’ve begun autologous transplants. Most of our cases involve neuroblastoma and lymphoma. From April 1 to date, we have conducted 31 BMTs — the number could have been much higher if we had more beds,” said Dr Sujata Sharma, head of the Division of Pediatric Haematology at Sion Hospital.
“The new unit will make that possible.”
Multiple hurdles
Dr Sharma explained that the journey from concept to construction was far from easy. “From finding a suitable site to securing BMC permissions and arranging funds, it took several steps before we could even begin construction,” she said.
A major boost came from Veha Foundation, a non-governmental organisation that donated Rs 20 crore toward the project. The funds are being used for construction, equipment purchase, and partial staffing. “The NGO has signed a 10-year contract with the hospital to support the unit,” Dr Sharma added.
Equipment and staffing plans
The unit will feature advanced medical technology to handle complex transplants, including multipurpose monitors, apheresis machines, and deep freezers to store stem cells. Procurement will be handled directly by the Veha Foundation, helping bypass lengthy government tender processes and speeding up the setup. A hybrid staffing model will also be adopted, with some staff recruited by Sion Hospital and others, including specialised experts, employed by the NGO to ensure smooth operations.
Leap for civic healthcare
The Dharavi pediatric BMT unit will significantly enhance the hospital’s capacity to treat complex blood disorders. For countless families who cannot afford private care, it represents a lifeline of hope. “This is not just about increasing beds, it’s about giving every child, regardless of income, access to world-class transplant care,” Dr Sharma said.
As construction nears completion, the upcoming Sion Hospital BMT Unit in Dharavi stands as a model for how public hospitals can deliver advanced, equitable healthcare and potentially inspire similar initiatives across India.
31
No. of BMTs conducted since April 1
Rs 20cr
Amount donated by Veha Foundation
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