The Indian College of Hematology (ICH) is the academic wing of the Indian Society of Hematology and Blood Transfusion (ISHBT). It is a conglomeration of haematological leadership in India and driven by the purpose of fostering excellence not only in academic and professional practice involving both clinical Hematology and laboratory Hematology, but also enhancing quality of health care and making it accessible to people everywhere in the country.

The ICH has a vision to standardise education, establish standard protocols for diagnosis, management and control of haematological diseases, promote research and development, and address the issues concerning academic excellence and quality of care.

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The Indian College of Haematology (ICH), the academic branch of Indian Society of Haematology and Blood Transfusion (ISHBT), is ready to fulfill the academic thirst in the field of haematology, opined senior haematologists of the country. Stating that the ICH has already shown the spark in its first year of establishment, haematologists underlined the need for ICH assisting in building knowledge capital on haematology in the country.

“Due to efforts of ISHBT, the ICH came into being and has done tremendous work in last one year. We are happy with the response shown by haematologists all across the country,” Dean ICH Dr Tejindar Singh said.

“We actually want workshops where the delegates would actually be doing the experiment or microscopy sessions those could help residents and post graduates gain have firsthand experience,” said Dr Singh.

“We have done three workshops carried out at Varanasi, Bhopal and Hyderabad. I invite senior professionals to organize workshops and CMEs at their own centres. Whatever assistance is needed by organizers, ICH would pitch in with support of faculties and other resources. Two workshops have been planned at Ahmadabad and Ludhiana in January and February respectively. There is no dearth of faculty and resources in the country. We have to share our knowledge,” he said.

Inaugurating the event, Dr. Shanaz Konaji, president-elect ISHBT, said, “we have long been discussing and debating the idea of having academic part of ISHBT. We wanted to promote haematology and we did not have the mechanism to take that task up. This idea of formulating ICH emerged from this. Now, it is a full-fledged body and academic wing of ISHBT. It supplements ISHBT.”

“We will try to create guidelines for many haematological diseases. For guidelines, we follow the West. Obviously, the conditions are different for our country. All haematologists have a role to play as we want to come up with our own guidelines,” she said.

Informing about ICH activities, Prof. RK Jena,ICH nodal officer, said, “Indian college of haematology started functioning since one year. During one year, we have conducted nine academic CMEs, two workshops and one international CME on myeloma which was initiated and coordinated by Shaji Kumar, overseas advisor of ISHBT.”

“Significantly, we have been assigned to prepare guideline on two important haematological diseases – sickle cell disease and nutritional anaemia. The guideline has been prepared in joint collaboration of ISHBT and Indian Council of Medical Research. We have almost completed guideline on sickle cell disease which is to be released on Friday by Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda,” he informed.

“The ICH has filled a long standing void in ISHBT. For many years, we were discussing for creation of ICH. But, it could not be created. Finally, it was created last year. Once constituted, it started functioning very actively under the leadership of Prof Tejinder Singh and Prof Jena. The ICH has potential to penetrate into small cities with workshops and CMEs,” said Dr. HP Pati, president ISHBT.

PROF. R. K. JENA
Hon’ry Secretary
Indian College of Haematology