Daga’s haemophilia centre now treating 460 patients in Nagpur

Nagpur: Started with less than 100 patients on April 17 in 2018, on World Haemophilia Day, a dedicated day care centre for haemophilia patients at Daga Hospital is now treating 460 registered patients of this rare blood disorder. Hemophilia is a genetic disorder that causes deficiencies in clotting factors, leading to repeated bleeding and joint deformities.
Dr Sanjay Deshmukh, in-charge of the Daga Haemophilia Centre, spoke about the challenges for people living with hemophilia. “Patients with hemophilia need clotting factors throughout their lives to prevent recurrent bleeding and complications. Factors are given on demand or prophylaxis basic, twice a week at least.”

On the financial burden of the disorder, he said, “These factors are very expensive, which the patients couldn’t afford, but Daga Hemophilia Centre is providing factor 8 or 9 to all hemophilia patients free of cost.”
Since 2018, the government has spent almost Rs15 crore on purchase of factor 8, 9 and inhibitors. The centre also provides diagnostic facilities to screen hemophilia, well-equipped physiotherapy units, and counselling services. Factors provided free of cost have saved lives of more than 50 haemophilia patients.
As the theme of this year’s World Haemophilia Day being ‘Access for all-Prevention of bleeds,’ a public forum was organized in which 15 hemophilia patients shared their experiences living with the disorder and how the Daga Haemophilia Centre has changed their lives by providing free factors, physiotherapy, and other essential services for the last four years.
Veteran paediatrician Dr Uday Bodhankar, executive director of Commonwealth Association for Health and Disability-COMHAD-UK, attended this forum and praised parents of children born with haemophilia for their patient and careful parenting. “While the centre is doing an exceptional job of providing free factors to patients, parenting of these children is full of challenges. At least four parents were emotionally choked while sharing experiences today,” said Dr Bodhankar.
Dr Madhuri Thorat, Dr Sandhya Dange, Academy of Paediatricians Nagpur president Dr Sanjay Pakhmode, and medical superintendent of Daga Hospital Dr Seema Parvekar were present. They expressed gratitude to the team of the centre including Dr Pradhnya Gajbhiye, coordinator Sandeep Poratkar, Dr Sneha, sister Leena, Pratidyna and Rohit Jaiswal, for their efforts.
“We are committed to providing the best possible care to haemophilia patients and will continue to work towards their betterment,” said Poratkar.