Rheumatology deals with the management of soft tissue disorders and medical treatment of bone & joint disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, SLE and ankylosing spondylitis.
The Rheumatology services of Govt General Hospital and Madras Medical college were started under the aegies of Dept of Medicine. The wards of General medicine were utilized to treat rheumatological patients. Initially the department was functioning during 1972, under the Chiefship of Prof. K. Ramachandra, the then Professor of Medicine. A full fledged department with 2 Assistant Professors, 2 Staff nurses and 1 technician was established during the tenure of Prof A. L. Annamalai and latter functioned under Prof .K V Thiruvenkadam .A separate department of Rheumatology was created by the Government of Tamilnadu with the sanctioning of a post of reader. Subsequently the department wad upgraded in to full fledged centre of excellence with all teaching, research, and patient care facilities with 30 beds. The department was first of its kind in the entire nation to function under a independent Professor of Rheumatology while in the rest of the country the rheumatology services were under the control of Professor of Medicine.
This is the only department offering D.M . post Doctoral Degree course in Rheumatology in the entire nation since 1991. Two D. M seats are available and are approved by the Medical Council of India. This super speciality course proved to be pioneer in rheumatological training in the entire country. D.M course is affiliated to the Dr. M.G.R. Medical University. Every year 2 qualified rheumatologists are going out to meet the ever growing demands of the vast populace of this glorious state of Tamilnadu. Some o f the qualified rheumatologist have even settled in the neighboring states, promoting interstate exchange of human resource services . Its of great pride that PhD in rheumatology affliated to Dr. M. G.R. Medical University was initially started only in the department.
The department was functioning until 2004 in the library block. After the construction of the glorious Twin Tower blocks, the department is functioning in the 6th floor of the Tower Block I. Independent male and female wards are functioning in wards 166 and 161 respectively catering to the needs of patients from all over the state as a tertiary referral care centre for rheumatology. The department at present is equipped with a Professor and HOD and 3 Assistant Professors, one additional professor of immunology, an assistant professor of immunology, laboratory staff, paramedical personnel, social worker, nursing staff, record clerk, artist cum photographer, nursing assistants and ward attendants in both regular and contract basis.
The department is offering out patient services on all days of the week except Sundays. The out patient care is provided between 8.00 a. m and 10.00am. The department is unique in its services as care is offered with expensive medications and a state of the art physiotherapy unit. The quality of the rheumatological care the patients receive is comparable to any of the western countries. International rheumatologists of Indian origin as well renowned international faculty visit the department every year and the quality of the care is recognized by the international fraternity.
The immunology lab is offering tissue typing and cross match facilities to the needy patients enabling the cadaveric renal and other transplant programs to function smoothly.