Second phase of “Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojna” for underprivileged Thalassemic patients

Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr Harsh Vardhan has launched the second phase of “Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojna” for the underprivileged Thalassemic patients, virtually from Nirman Bhawan.

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Key-Points

Launched in 2017, this scheme is a Coal India CSR funded Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) program.

It aims to provide a one-time cure opportunity for Haemoglobinopathies like Thalassaemia and Sickle Cell Disease for patients who have a matched family donor.

The CSR initiative was targeted to provide financial assistance to a total of 200 patients by providing a package cost not exceeding Rs. 10 lakhs per HSCT.

Haemoglobinopathies, such as Thalassemia and sickle cell disease are inherited disorders of red blood cells and are preventable.

People with thalassaemia are not able to make enough haemoglobin due to which oxygen cannot get to all parts of the body, thereby organs are unable to function properly.

There are two major types of thalassaemia, alpha and beta, which are named for the two protein chains that make up normal haemoglobin.

In India, Thalassemia Major (TM) and the severe form of Thalassemia Intermedia (TI) constitute the major burden of disease.