Executive Summary:
This document addresses a question in Lok Sabha regarding the prevalence of thalassemia in Karnataka and the measures taken to address it nationally. It outlines the support provided by the central government through the National Health Mission (NHM) and other initiatives, including the Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojana (TBSY) for Bone Marrow Transplants (BMT). The primary responsibility for managing thalassemia and raising awareness lies with the State governments.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Thalassemia Prevalence in Karnataka:** There are 2288 thalassemia patients in Karnataka, with 70 in the Hassan district.
* **National Health Mission (NHM) Support:**
* Support is provided to States/UTs to strengthen healthcare systems, including thalassemia prevention and management.
* This includes support for Blood Bank facilities, Day Care Centers, Medicines, Lab services, IEC activities, and training.
* **Guidelines and Strategies:**
* Comprehensive guidelines on Prevention and Control of Hemoglobinopathies in India (2016) have been shared with States/UTs.
* These guidelines detail strategies for managing thalassemia, including blood transfusion therapy, iron chelation, and psychological support.
* **Iron Chelation Drugs:**
* Under NHM, States/UTs are supported for providing three Iron chelation drugs: Desferrioxamine, Deferiprone, and Deferasirox at Public Health Facilities.
* The Free Drugs Service Initiative (FDSI) supports the procurement of drugs and strengthening procurement and Quality Assurance systems.
* Quality of drugs is ensured through GMP compliant manufacturers and post-supply testing.
* **Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojana (TBSY):**
* Financial assistance of up to Rs. 10 lakh is provided for Bone Marrow Transplants (BMT).
* BMT is provided in seventeen empanelled hospitals across the country, including 4 in Karnataka.
* **Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) in Karnataka:** Free BMT is provided in empanelled hospitals under Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust for poor/BPL beneficiaries in Karnataka.
Impact Analysis:
* **State/UT Governments:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for the primary management of thalassemia and raising awareness.
* *Action Required:* Utilize NHM support to strengthen healthcare systems, implement guidelines for managing thalassemia, and ensure the availability of iron chelation drugs.
* **Thalassemia Patients:**
* *Impact:* Access to improved management, iron chelation drugs, and financial assistance for BMT through TBSY.
* *Action Required:* Utilize available resources and schemes for treatment and BMT.
* **Healthcare Facilities (Public and Empanelled Hospitals):**
* *Impact:* Strengthened facilities and resources for thalassemia management, including drug procurement and quality assurance.
* *Action Required:* Ensure adherence to quality standards for drug procurement and provide BMT services under TBSY and Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust.
* **Central Government (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare):**
* *Impact:* Responsible for providing support through NHM, FDSI, and TBSY.
* *Action Required:* Continue to monitor the implementation of guidelines and provide necessary support to States/UTs.
Key Entities Referenced
Thalassemia: A genetic blood disorder involving defective hemoglobin production, a key focus of the policy document.
Karnataka: A state in India with a focus on the prevalence and management of Thalassemia.
Hassan district, Karnataka: A district in Karnataka with a notably high prevalence of Thalassemia.
National Health Mission (NHM): A government initiative providing support to states for healthcare system strengthening, including Thalassemia management.
Comprehensive guidelines on Prevention and Control of Hemoglobinopathies in India: A set of guidelines to assist states in the management of Haemoglobinopathies including Thalassemia.
Free Drugs Service Initiative (FDSI): A government initiative supporting drug procurement and quality assurance.
Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojana (TBSY): A scheme implemented by the Ministry in association with Coal India Limited (CIL) providing financial assistance for Bone Marrow Transplants (BMT).
Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT): A medical procedure mentioned as a permanent cure for children with Thalassemia.
GOVERNMENT OFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTHAND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENT OFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 3420
TOBE ANSWERED ON 8TH AUGUST,2025
PREVALENCEOFTHALASSAEMIAIN KARNATAKA
3420.SHRISHREYAS M PATEL:
Will the Ministerof HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a) whether there is a high prevalence of thalassaemia in Karnataka, especially in districts
such as Hassan, if so, the details thereofalong with the data andthe reasons therefor, district-
wise;
(b) whether there is lack of systematic screening and awareness about thalassaemia in the
country and if so, the details thereof along with the measures taken/proposed to be taken by
the Government toaddress the same;
(c)the measures taken/implementedtoresolve the shortage andlimitedaccesstostandardised
thalassaemia drugs inthe State of Karnataka;
(d) the details of the reasons as to why free iron chelation drugs which are provided at
Government centres are ineffective and cause side effects without reducing iron overload;
and
(e) the details of centres in Karnataka offering Bone Marrow Transplant as a permanent cure
for childrenwith Thalassaemia?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILY
WELFARE
(SMT. ANUPRIYAPATEL)
(a) to (e): As informed by Government of Karnataka, there are 2288 thalassemia patients in
Karnataka,out of which, 70diseased are inHassan district.
The primary responsibility of management of Thalassemia along with raising awareness lies
with the respective State/UTGovernments. However,under National Health Mission (NHM),
support is provided to States/UTs to strengthen their healthcare system including support for
prevention andmanagement of Thalassemia at public healthcare facilities,provision of Blood
Bank facilities, Day Care Centre, Medicines, Lab services, IEC activities and training of HR
etc. based on the proposals submitted by the States/UTs in their Programme Implementation
Plans.
1Comprehensive guidelines on Prevention and Control of Hemoglobinopathies in India-
Thalassemia & Sickle cell Disease and other variant Hemoglobins (2016) had been shared to
assist the States/UTs for management of Haemoglobinopathies including Thalassemia. The
guidelinesdetailthe strategiesfor managementofThalassemia disease includingThalassemia
major(Blood transfusion therapy with packedred bloodcell, iron chelationfor iron overload,
monitoring and management of complication and psychological support etc.) and non
transfusion dependentThalassemia (NTDT) etc.
Further, underNHM, States/UTs are supported forprovision of three Iron- chelationdrugs viz
Desferrioxamine, Deferiprone and Deferasirox at Public Health Facilities for thalassemia.
Under Free Drugs Service Initiative (FDSI), Government of India supports procurement of
drugs andstrengthening robust systems of procurementand QualityAssurance.
Quality of drugs procured, under FDSI, is ensured through the operational guidelines of the
initiativethat
1. All drugs must be sourced from Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) compliant
manufacturersthrough robust procurement mechanism.
2. Post supply testing of everybatch before distributing tothe healthfacilities.
This Ministry, in association with Coal India Limited (CIL), is implementing a scheme
namely Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojana (TBSY) wherein financial assistance up to Rs.10 lakh
is provided to eligible patients for Bone Marrow Transplants (BMT) from CIL Corporate
Social Responsibility (CSR) funds. This scheme provides for BMT in seventeen empanelled
hospitals spread across the countryincluding 4inKarnataka.
As informed by Government of Karnataka, free BMT is provided in empanelled hospitals
underSuvarnaArogya Suraksha Trust for allthe poor/BPLbeneficiaries of the State.
****
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