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India is facing the most burden of Thalassemia globally. Dr. Anupam Sachdeva, co-director of Child Health Institute at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, said that 863 children are born daily in Delhi.
New Delhi: Investigation of prenatal thalassemia in India should be made mandatory. This hereditary blood disorder can be prevented by prenatal examination. Also, the expenditure incurred in treatment can also be reduced significantly. These things were said by doctors on Wednesday on the eve of World Thalassemia Day. Doctors said that the investigation of Thalassemia in the first quarter should be made an essential part of the prenatal care. Thalassemia (Thalassemia produces less than normal hemoglobin in the body, due to which the patient needs to offer blood repeatedly) is one of the most hereditary diseases in India, which can be stopped.
About five lakhs per child are spent in treatment
Experts said that up to five lakhs per child are spent per year in treatment, but due to timely investigation, it can be stopped for only 150 rupees. India is facing the most burden of Thalassemia globally. Dr. Anupam Sachdeva, co-director of Child Health Institute at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, said that 863 children are born daily in Delhi. All pregnant women should be examined during their first quarter. Dr. Sachdeva said that these simple steps can be stopped in marriage and future Thalassemia. He said that we can save a child for only 150 rupees. We should make Thalassemia probe a standard part of prenatal care across India, just as we do for blood sugar or hemoglobin. Delhi’s healthcare system is well prepared to support this effort.
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Treatment of Thalassemia is a burden for moderate income families
He said that the city has more than 150 diagnostic labs equipped with HPLC and D10 machines, including top institutions like AIIMS. He said that each center can check 180 people daily. He said that this is not a challenge of resources, but a challenge to decide the priority. Thalassemics India Secretary Shobha Tuli said that under the National Health Authority, Ayushman Bharat provides assistance to the Thalassemia patients living below the poverty line. But, the reality is that the cost of managing Thalassemia is also a burden for moderate income families. If health goals for all, Thalassemia should get real priority.
Investigation compulsory before marriage in many countries including Iran
He said that Iran and many other countries have made it mandatory before marriage and in the early days of pregnancy. Due to these preventive measures, there has been a dramatic decrease in the birth of new children suffering from Thalassemia Major. Tuli said that India should also follow this certified route. We strongly urge the Union Ministry of Health to implement the National Regulatory imperative for Thalassemia testing in the first quarter of pregnancy and in the reproductive age group.
The victim expects a solution from the government
Dr. VK Khanna, in charge of Thalassemia Unit at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, said that our own hospital has investigated more than 50 thousand pregnancies in the last 25 years. We have no birth of Thalassemia from that pool. This model works. The infrastructure is ready. Now we need political and regulatory momentum to deliver it to the city and eventually the whole country. A parent of Thalassemia Major child did not name the name and said that we have been facing this situation for the last eight years. Every few weeks, our child needs to offer blood and the cost is increasing. We are not below the poverty line, but we still need help. We hope that the government will recognize our problem and expand the access to families like us.
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