All government hospitals, dispensaries, and clinics in Delhi now have to report suspected and confirmed cases of thalassemia to the state health department every month.

Thalassemia is a genetic blood disorder that results in the production of abnormal red blood cells and causes anaemia.

The 11-point performa shared by Delhi’s health department not only makes all levels of healthcare facilities accountable, but also guides them on the protocols for diagnosing whether a newborn is at risk of thalassemia major. The Delhi government kicked off a 15-day awareness drive on May 1 at all its health facilities for the purpose.

“Under the national programme, a test for definitive thalassaemia diagnosis was done in 10 Delhi hospitals, which also provide free blood transfusions and chelation drugs. We started a registry as all patients with thalassemia come to the government facilities,” said Dr SK Arora, additional director of health and head of state thalassemia project.

Thalassemia is treated with regular blood transfusions and chelation, which removes excess iron from the body. People with thalassemia minor are carriers of the trait that can manifest as the disease in their children.

An estimated 2,200 people live with thalassemia major in Delhi.

“In the last two years, the government has made efforts to ensure people with thalassemia major are able to get free transfusions and chelation drugs. However, the district hospitals where the facility available is still inaccessible to many and the supplies are not uniform or regular in some states leading to shortages. For a cure, the government in association with COAL India has done around 100 bone marrow transplants in the last two years. Now, it is done for people with donor relatives. The initiative to create a registry of thalassemics and stem cell donors will help in finding donors for people who do not have a related donor,” said Shobha Tuli, vice-president, Thalassemia International Federation and founding member of Thalassemics India.

First Published: May 09, 2019 04:49 IST