Kolkata : CK Birla Hospitals – CMRI, Kolkata,announced the launch of its state-of-the-art Bone Bank, establishing the first functional Bone Bank in the private sector across Eastern India. Built in accordance with national and international standards, the facility marks a significant advancement in the hospital’s capabilities in musculoskeletal care, trauma surgeries, oncology, and reconstructive procedures by ensuring a consistent, safe, and high-quality supply of bone allografts.
Bone banks play an increasingly vital role in modern surgical practice, providing timely access to rigorously screened and processed grafts that undergo comprehensive donor evaluation, microbiological testing, validated sterilisation, and complete traceability. By reducing the need for autograft harvesting — a procedure often associated with additional operative time, donor-site pain, limited graft volume, and higher morbidity — CMRI’s Bone Bank aims to enhance surgical outcomes, reduce operating-room time, and support faster patient recovery.
The facility will offer a wide spectrum of graft types, including structural corticocancellous blocks, morselised grafts, and cancellous chips. This diversity enables surgeons to select the optimal graft for complex clinical scenarios such as tumour resections, nonunion surgeries, spinal fusions, major trauma reconstructions, and deformity corrections. The availability of ready-to-use grafts is expected to significantly expand reconstructive options for patients across the region.
Commenting on the clinical impact of the new facility, Dr. Rakesh Rajput, HOD & Director, Orthopaedics, CK Birla Hospitals – CMRI, said:
“A dedicated Bone Bank is crucial for advanced orthopaedic reconstruction. In cases involving complex fractures, nonunion, tumour resections, and deformity corrections, bone allografts allow us to restore structure and stability without subjecting patients to the added trauma of autograft harvesting. With robust screening, standardised processing, sterilisation, and documentation, a dependable Bone Bank elevates both precision and safety in demanding procedures. This initiative marks a significant step forward in delivering ethical, high-quality reconstructive care for patients in our region.”
Sharing his perspective on the launch, Sombrata Roy, Unit Head, CK Birla Hospitals – CMRI, said:
“The Bone Bank underscores our commitment to strengthening clinical infrastructure that directly enhances patient outcomes. A reliable supply of high-quality, regulated grafts reduces waiting times, supports complex surgeries, and ensures greater equity of access across Eastern India. This initiative reaffirms CMRI’s focus on ethical, standardised, and patient-centric tissue utilisation.”
The inauguration ceremony was attended by distinguished Guests of Honour, including senior government leaders and national experts in public health and tissue banking. Shri N. S. Nigam, Principal Secretary, Health & Family Welfare Department, West Bengal; Dr. Swapan Saren, Director of Health Services, West Bengal; Prof. (Dr.) Indrajit Saha, Director of Medical Education, West Bengal and Dr. Anirudha Neogi, Ex-Special Secretary, Medical Education, were present to support this pioneering initiative. Their participation highlighted West Bengal’s commitment to strengthening regulated tissue banking, improving surgical preparedness, and advancing ethical healthcare delivery. The presence of two patients who benefitted from the bone bank added a meaningful, real-world perspective to the launch.
Special recognition was offered to Prof. (Dr.) Ajoy S. M, Senior Consultant, Ramaiah Medical College & Hospitals, and Coordinator, Ramaiah Tissue Bank, whose expert guidance played a pivotal role in shaping CMRI’s Bone Bank. His extensive experience in tissue banking and quality systems was instrumental in establishing the facility’s operational framework and ensuring full compliance with national standards.
In addition to clinical applications, the Bone Bank will also foster research, advanced surgical training, and innovation within CK Birla Hospitals – CMRI. It will support resident education, simulation-based learning, and comparative studies on graft performance and processing technologies. With experienced personnel, validated protocols, and robust cold-chain management, the facility is poised to become a regional centre of excellence for safe, ethical bone procurement, processing and distribution.
