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New Delhi, June 30, 2023:
Indian Spinal Injuries Centre (ISIC) announces the establishment of the first-ever dedicated Neuro-urology Department for the spinal cord injury patients. This pioneering initiative comes as a response to the gross neglect of urological and sexual health concerns among individuals with spinal cord injuries in India. ISIC, the largest tertiary care center for spinal injury care in the region, aims to alleviate these issues by providing comprehensive care for patients with these specialized needs.
The launch of the Neuro-urology Department signals a paradigm shift in the management of neurogenic bladder dysfunction and related sexual health issues, which affect up to 90-95% of patients with spinal cord injuries. Dr. Dinesh Suman, the Director of Neuro-urology and SCI Andrology at ISIC, emphasized, “Healthy life begins with self-awareness and taking responsibility for your own health through education and guidance. It is our mission to educate SCI patients about the necessity of maintaining a safe urinary system to avoid unnecessary complications and ensure a good quality of life.”
The newly launched department will extend its services to the estimated 1.5 million spinal cord injury patients in India, who grapple with neglect of their urological and sexual health concerns. Even after successful spine surgeries at various major spine centers, these patients are often left with unaddressed and untreated health challenges due to lack of awareness and specialized care. The Neglected Bladder campaign, initiated by the department, aims to encourage these patients to seek timely and appropriate care.
The Neuro-urology Department features comprehensive and dedicated neuro-urological care, including urological, sexual, and fertility care for SCI patients. The department will offer state-of-the-art medical, surgical, non-invasive, and neurostimulation therapeutic treatment options, ensuring holistic care for patients. The department’s services will also be extended via telemedicine for long-term patient support.
Dr. Suman further highlighted that urinary complications following spinal injury often result in recurrent symptoms like failure to pass urine, the need for a catheter, uncontrolled urine flow, repeated urinary infections, and complications such as deformed shrunken bladder, kidney and bladder stones, back pressure changes causing swelling of the kidneys and eventual kidney failure. These complications lead to frequent hospital visits, admissions, and advanced costly treatments, placing a significant financial burden on patients, families, and communities.
Sexual and fertility problems, often overlooked in over 95% of patients due to societal taboos and lack of awareness, will also be addressed comprehensively in the new department. Dr. Suman emphasized, “Our aim is to eliminate the need for SCI patients to navigate multiple healthcare providers and ensure that their urinary and sexual health concerns are effectively addressed.”
ISIC Chief Strategy Officer, Ms. Sugandh Ahluwalia, echoed Dr. Suman’s sentiments, noting, “Our goal is to provide universal urological health coverage to all SCI patients across the country by 2030. Dr. Dinesh Suman’s experience and dedication will be invaluable to the vast number of spinal cord injury patients across the country.”
The Neuro-urology Department is set to create a positive impact on the lives of SCI patients through improved diagnosis and management of bladder dysfunction, its complications, and other conditions linked to spinal cord injuries. As a part of the initiative, the department will also offer remote online support to patients and their caregivers for their day-to-day concerns.
“This dedicated Neuro-urology Department aims to prevent unnecessary complications and improve the quality of life of our SCI patients,” concluded Dr. Suman. “With proper and timely evaluation and treatment, we want to assure every SCI patient that their urological and sexual health and overall well-being can be preserved. They can look forward to having a fulfilling, productive, healthy, and long life.”
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