By Firstdespatch Desk Jul 06, 2026
Agartala, July 6 (FD) The medical team at Agartala Government Medical College (AGMC) and GBP Hospital has begun a comprehensive review of the case of Manashree, a child diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), with doctors stating that any decision on administering advanced gene therapy will be taken only after consultations with the hospital administration and the state government.
Addressing the media on Monday, Dr. Abir Lal Nath, Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology at AGMC and GBP Hospital, said the child is suffering from Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), a rare genetic neuromuscular disorder that has recently drawn significant public attention through social media campaigns.
He said the patient was initially treated by a local pediatrician before being referred to the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), where comprehensive medical evaluations, including genetic testing, confirmed the diagnosis.
Dr. Nath emphasized that the treatment plan has been formulated through a multidisciplinary approach rather than by an individual specialist.
He said, the case has been jointly evaluated by neurologists Dr. Arpan Mitra and Dr. Supriya Jamatia, neurosurgeon Dr. Reddy, pediatrician Dr. Sanjib Debbarma, and specialists from the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR).
According to Dr. Nath, the child is currently receiving Risdiplam, a disease-modifying drug for SMA, which the family has been able to procure and continue. However, the ongoing public crowdfunding campaign is aimed at arranging Onasemnogene Abeparvovec, an advanced one-time gene therapy regarded as one of the most expensive treatments available for SMA worldwide.
He added that expert opinions from the departments of neurosurgery and pediatrics would also be incorporated into the final assessment before any decision is made.
Reiterating the hospital's commitment to patient welfare, Dr. Nath said the primary objective is to ensure that the child receives the most appropriate treatment in the safest and most suitable medical setting. FD JK