**Executive Summary:**
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare addresses a parliamentary inquiry regarding tribal health, specifically concerning the establishment of a National Tribal Health and Research Institute, development of drugs for Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), and the prevalence of SCD among tribal populations. The government launched the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission in 2023, with targeted screening to be completed by 2025-26. Several initiatives and screenings have been undertaken by the ICMR, MoHFW and State Governments.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission:**
* Launched in 2023 to eliminate SCD.
* Aims to provide affordable, accessible, and quality healthcare to SCD patients.
* Focuses on reducing SCD prevalence through awareness creation.
* Targets screening of 7 crore people aged 0-40 years in affected tribal populations across 365 districts by 2025-26.
* Involves collaborative efforts between central ministries and State governments.
* **Research and Support Initiatives:**
* ICMR addresses tribal health through the National Institute for Research in Tribal Health (NIRTH), Jabalpur.
* ICMR has established a Centre for Research Management and Control of Hemoglobinopathies in Chandrapur, Maharashtra, supporting national programs on SCD.
* MoHFW has devised cost norms for establishing Centres of Excellence (CoE) on SCD, funded by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) in various states. As of 28.07.2025, 15 CoEs have been approved by MoTA.
* **Access to Medication:**
* Hydroxyurea drugs have been included in the National Health Mission (NHM) Essential Drugs List at various health centers.
* **Screening Results (as of 28.07.2025):**
* 6,04,50,683 people screened in 17 identified tribal-dominated states.
* 2,16,118 confirmed as diseased.
* 16,48,252 have Sickle Cell traits.
* **Kerala - Palakkad District:**
* 8,186 individuals screened.
* 67 identified as diseased.
* 1,367 identified as Sickle Cell Trait carriers.
**Impact Analysis**
**Central Government (MoHFW, ICMR, MoTA):**
* *Impact:* Responsible for implementing and overseeing the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission, providing resources and funding for research and healthcare initiatives, and establishing Centres of Excellence.
* *Action Required:* Continue to support and monitor the progress of the mission, ensure the availability of essential drugs, and coordinate with state governments and other stakeholders to achieve the mission's objectives.
**State Governments:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for conducting screenings, providing healthcare services to affected individuals, and raising awareness about SCD in tribal populations.
* *Action Required:* Implement the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission at the state level, conduct targeted screenings, provide necessary treatment and counseling, and collaborate with central ministries and other stakeholders.
**Tribal Populations:**
* *Impact:* Directly affected by the prevalence of SCD; benefit from increased awareness, screening programs, improved access to healthcare, and potential development of new drugs.
* *Action Required:* Participate in screening programs, seek medical attention if symptomatic, and adhere to prescribed treatment plans.
**Healthcare Providers:**
* *Impact:* Involved in screening, diagnosis, treatment, and management of SCD patients.
* *Action Required:* Implement screening protocols, provide appropriate medical care, educate patients and communities about SCD, and participate in research and training programs.
Key Entities Referenced
National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission: A Government of India mission launched in 2023 with the objective of eliminating sickle cell disease (SCD).
Sickle Cell Disease: A genetic blood disorder prevalent among certain tribal populations, also referred to as SCD.
Indian Council of Medical Research: An organization addressing tribal health through research and health interventions. Abbreviated as ICMR.
ICMR National Institute for Research in Tribal Health, Jabalpur: A research institute under ICMR, focusing on research and health interventions for tribal populations, located in Jabalpur.
Centre for Research Management and Control of Hemoglobinopathies, Chandrapur, Maharashtra: A center established by ICMR in Chandrapur, Maharashtra, supporting national programs, including those on sickle cell disease, particularly affecting tribal groups.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs: A government ministry funding the establishment of Centres of Excellence (CoE) on SCD in various states. Abbreviated as MoTA.
National Health Mission: A government initiative under which Hydroxyurea drugs have been included in the Essential Drugs List to address access to medicine. Abbreviated as NHM.
Palakkad district, Kerala: A district in Kerala where tribal people are affected by Sickle Cell Disease, specifically in the Attapadi region.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 3356
TO BE ANSWERED ON 8th AUGUST,2025
SETTING UPOFNATIONALTRIBALHEALTH AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE
3356.SHRIVK SREEKANDAN:
Will the Ministerof HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a) whether it is a fact that the Government is considering to set up a National Tribal Health
andResearch Institute andif so,the detailsthereof;
(b) whether it is also a fact that the Government is considering to develop drugs to manage
Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) prevalent among certain tribal populations and if so, the details
thereof;
(c) whether it is a fact that over 5.8 crore people were screened for SCD, out of which 2.1
lakh people were found to be having Sickle Cell Disease and over 16.38 lakh people were
found positive for SCDtraitsandif so, the detailsthereof; and
(d) whether it is a fact that many tribal people are affected by having Sickle Cell Disease in
Attapadi regioninthe Palakkad district of Kerala andif so, the detailsthereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH ANDFAMILY
WELFARE
(SMT.ANUPRIYAPATEL)
(a) to (d): To eliminate sickle cell disease (SCD), the Government of India has launched
National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission in the year 2023. The objectives of the
Mission are provision of affordable, accessible and quality health care to all Sickle Cell
Diseased patients, reduction in the prevalence of SCD through awareness creation, targeted
screening of 7 crore people till year 2025-26 in the age group of 0-40 years in affected tribal
population in 365 districts and counselling through collaborative efforts of central ministries
andStategovernments.
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) addresses tribal health through the ICMR-
National Institute for Research inTribal Health (NIRTH), Jabalpur with focusonresearch and
health interventions for tribal populations. Additionally, ICMR has established a Centre for
Research Management and Control of Hemoglobinopathies in Chandrapur, Maharashtra
which supports national programs including those on sickle celldisease, particularly affecting
tribal groups.
MoHFW has devised the cost norms for establishment of Centres of Excellence (CoE) onSCD funded by Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) in various states. As on 28.07.2025, 15
CoEsacross the countryhasbeenapprovedbyMoTA.
Hydroxyurea drugs has been included in National Health Mission (NHM) Essential Drugs
List at Sub-Health Centres, Primary Health Centres (PHC)/ Urban PHC, Community Health
Centres(CHC) andDistrict Hospitals toaddress the issue of access tomedicine.
As on 28.07.2025, a total of 6,04,50,683 population in the 17 identified tribal dominated
States, have been screened out of which, 2,16,118 have been confirmed as diseased and
16,48,252have SickleCell traits.
As informed by Government of Kerala, 8,186 individuals have been screened in Palakkad
district, out of which, 67 have been identified as diseased and 1,367 as Sickle Cell Trait
carriers.
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