At least 100 people from the BPL category in need of total knee replacement would get free implants at Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) from June.

Arjun Singh, the PMCH orthopaedics department head, said that former health department principal secretary Amarjeet Sinha had provided Rs 2.3 crore last year for starting the facility as well as for buying some equipment for the operating theatre (OT) where the total knee replacement surgery would be done.

According to sources, BPL category people of the state would be benefited by this move because most of them do not get their total knee replacement done because one has to spend huge money on buying implants, which are fitted in joints during the surgery. At PMCH, more than 100 patients are advised to go for total knee replacement surgery daily. Most of these patients come from the poor background who cannot afford the surgery because of the high cost of implants.

At private hospitals in the city, patients are required to give not only the hefty amount (Rs 60,000 to Rs 1,40,000) to buy the implants there but they also have to give around Rs 15,000-Rs 20,000 as operation charges. The poor are left with no choice but to avoid the surgery because in government hospitals too they have to buy the implants. “Though we get many patients who are required to go for the total knee replacement surgery but not all of them can get it done. The Indian implants cost between Rs 60,000 and Rs 80,000 but for buying the imported ones, a patient needs to shell out around Rs 1.3 lakh. Since we have funds for buying the implants, we can start the facility here,” said Dr Singh.

“Our supplier has told us that he can provide us with 100 implants within this budget apart from some equipment which are required for starting the OT-5. We would start the facility with the available funds. Later, if we need more implants, we would ask the state government to provide us with funds in the hospital’s annual budget,” said Ranjit Singh, another doctor of the orthopaedics department.

On patients who need total knee replacement surgery, Ranjit said: “Those who have osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis problems are suggested to go for total knee replacement surgery. Those who have deformity in their joints and cannot walk properly are also advised by doctors for surgery. We advise total knee replacement to those whose joint pain becomes unbearable.”