63^rd Annual Conference of Indian Society of Haematology & Blood Transfusion (ISHBT) (HAEMATOCON – 2022)

With a great pleasure it is being announced that the 63th Annual Conference of  Indian Society of Haematology & Blood Transfusion (ISHBT), well known as HAEMATOCON 2022, is being held from 3rd -6th November, 2022 at Viswa Bangla Convention Center, Kolkata.

Shri Arjun Munda, Honourable Union Minister, Tribal Affairs will be present as Chief Guest and inaugurate the program.  Prof. Debashis Bhattacharya, DME, Health & Family Welfare West Bengal,  along with Prof. H.Pati, President ISHBT, Prof. Shanaz Khodaji, President Elect, ISHBT, Dr. Tuphan Kanti Dolai, Organizing Secretary HAEMATOCON-22, Prof. Maitreyee Bhattacharya, Secretary ISHBT,  Prof. Sharmila Chandra, DR. R K Jena, Organizing Chairperson, Haematocon – 2022 &  other renowned haematologists  of the country & legendary International faculties will grace the occasion.

India faces a huge struggle to combat rising prevalence of diseases from infectious, life style-related to chronic. The country suffers a particularly high burden of blood disorders like anemia, thalassemia, sickle cell anemia, hemophilia and blood cancers.

It is estimated that more than 50 percent of the population of India suffers from anemia of any type – from genetic, hereditary to malnutrition and other deficiencies. In India the problem of anemia is more acute with prevalence of hemoglobinopathies including Sickle Cell Disease alarming in many parts of the country.

More than 5 percent of India’s population is affected by Thalassemia while sickle cell disease is a major health problem in many part of the country.  In certain areas and communities, incidence is as high as 60 percent. Besides, other blood diseases and disorders like hemophilia and blood cancers and other blood diseases constitute the major health problem in our country at present.  Various health programs taken up by Govt. of India and State Govt.s addressing the problems of Anemia, Sickle Cell Disease and Thalassemia have not yielded expected results due to various reasons.

In this backdrop, Shri Arjun Munda, Honourable Union Minister has released ICH-ICMR Guideline on Sickle Cell Disease & Nutritional Anemia. today in the dias of the Inaugureal Ceremoney . He has  hoped that in near future, this Guideline help to fix the protocal of the treatment of these diseases and increase mass awareness.

 Dr. Tuphan Kanti Dolai has said that The objective of the conference is to deliberate on the burden of blood disorders and diseases and various emerging issues in the field of hematology. There will be exchange of ideas and knowledge on latest advances in diagnosis and treatment as well as reorientation of doctors in tune with the recent developments. The main focus is the holistic management of blood diseases of Public Health importance like Anemia and sickle diseases. In Addition, advances related various blood cancers (Leukemia, Myeloma, Lymphoma etc.) and other blood diseases will be discussed.

 63^rd Annual Conference of Indian Society of Haematology & Blood Transfusion (Haematocon – 2022) is organized by Eastern Heamatology Group (EHG). Prof. H.Pati, President ISHBT has said that It is the only Zonal Professional Organization of India involving the Haematologists of Eastern India. The principal objective is to outreach every part of eastern India with all the developments and advances so that every citizen of all the state of eastern India can access the best of health care facilities. It is the part of Indian Society of Haematology & Blood Transfusion ( ISHBT).

According to Prof. Maitreyee Bhattacharya, Secretary ISHBT, this is the only National Professional body of Haematologists which started 62 years back. It comprises the members across the country with sole objective of creating awareness among public, educating and up-grading the knowledge of the doctors with recent advances, giving suggestions to various Govts for prevention and control of blood diseases of public health importance.

Indian College of Haematololgy (ICH) is the academic wing of ISHBT started functioning since 2019 with the main objective of fulfilling the academic and research objective of ISHBT. Recently the one ADVOCACY GROUP with senior members have been created with objective of discussing with Govt.’s, ICMR, other agencies and all stakeholders for development and achievement of holistic healthcare services related to blood diseases in every part of country.

In HAEMATOCON-22,More than 1500 doctors from different parts of the country, officer bearers of ASH, EHA, Sickle Global Network, ICMR, Delhi, MOTA and NHA, Govt. of India and all other stakeholders are taking part in the conference. The Workshop and CME programme are being graced by 22 world renowned hematologists along with 350 other eminent faculties from India to share their invaluable knowledge and expertise with participants.