Read or download the official PDF of this gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs on 22nd July 2026. Classified under Press Release.
Executive Summary
This report details the progress of the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission (NSCAEM) as of July 16, 2026, focusing on tribal-dominated areas in 17 states. The mission has screened over 7.24 crore individuals in the 0–40 age group, identifying 247,961 diseased persons and 2,035,181 carriers. Key initiatives include the provision of essential medicines like Hydroxyurea and comprehensive support services ranging from prenatal counseling to nutritional supplementation.
Key Points / Main Content
Mission Scope and Implementation
The NSCAEM targets tribal citizens aged 0–40 years for Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) diagnosis.
Screenings are conducted across all health facility levels, from Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAM) to District Hospitals (DH).
The program is currently operational in 17 affected tribal states.
Medical and Financial Provisions
Hydroxyurea is now included in the National Health Mission (NHM) Essential Drugs List for all levels of health centers.
The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoH & FW) provides technical and financial assistance to States/UTs.
Funding is allocated based on Program Implementation Plans (PIPs) submitted by the States under the NHM.
Patient Support Services
Frequent medical follow-ups for diseased individuals to monitor health status.
Lifestyle management and counseling specifically for newly-married couples regarding pre-marriage and pre-natal decisions.
Nutritional support through the distribution of folic acid tablets.
Holistic care including yoga, wellness sessions, and crisis symptom management with referral links to higher facilities.
Prevalence Data (as of 16.07.2026)
Total screenings: Over 7.24 crore.
Diseased individuals identified: 247,961.
Carriers identified: 2,035,181.
Major affected states include Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra.
Impact Analysis
Tribal Citizens (Aged 0–40)Impact
They gain access to specialized diagnostic screenings and essential medical treatments like Hydroxyurea at local health centers. Diseased individuals and carriers receive lifestyle and nutritional support to improve their quality of life.
Action Required
Eligible individuals should undergo screening at nearby health facilities and adhere to follow-up protocols and counseling if diagnosed.
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoH & FW)Impact
Acts as the central provider of technical expertise and financial backing for the mission.
Action Required
Review and approve Program Implementation Plans (PIPs) from States/UTs to facilitate the release of funds for screenings and drug procurement.
State and UT Governments (17 Affected States)Impact
Responsible for the ground-level execution of screenings and the procurement of necessary drugs under NHM.
Action Required
States must submit detailed PIPs to the central ministry and ensure that health facilities from AAM to DH levels are equipped to conduct screenings and provide prescribed treatments.
Healthcare Providers (District Hospitals to Ayushman Arogya Mandirs)Impact
These facilities serve as the primary points of contact for screening, diagnosis, and long-term management of SCD.
Action Required
Health staff must conduct screenings, maintain the SCD Portal with accurate data, distribute nutritional supplements, and provide counseling and wellness sessions to patients.
Key Entities Referenced
National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission (NSCAEM): The primary government initiative focused on screening and eliminating sickle cell disease, specifically targeting individuals aged 0–40 years.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs: The central ministry responsible for the welfare of tribal citizens and monitoring the mission's impact in tribal-dominated areas.
National Health Mission (NHM): The policy framework providing financial support, technical guidance, and the Essential Drugs List for sickle cell disease management.
Ayushman Arogya Mandir (AAM): Key decentralized health facilities identified as primary locations for conducting diagnostic screenings for the mission.
SCD Portal: The official digital platform for reporting and aggregating screening data and identification of diseased persons and carriers.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs
TRIBAL CITIZENS SCREENED UNDER ANAEMIA
MISSION
प्रव तथ: 22 JUL 2026 4:08PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Shri Jual Oram informed Raya Sabha that as per the information
received from Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoH & FW), under the National Sickle Cell
Anaemia Elimination Mission (NSCAEM), screenings in the targeted age group of 0–40 years are
conducted at all health facilities from District Hospitals (DH) up to Ayushman Arogya Mandir (AAM)
level in the affected 17 tribal States for diagnosis of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD).
As reported by the States on the SCD Portal, as on 16.07.2026, more than 7.24 crore screenings have
been conducted in tribal-dominated areas of the country, and a total of 247,961 individuals have been
identified as diseased and 2,035,181 as carriers of SCD.
Age-wise details of diseased persons and carriers of Sickle Cell Anaemia identified through screening in
the affected States are attached at Annexure I and Annexure II, respectively.
Hydroxyurea has been included in NHM Essential Drugs List at Sub-Health Centres, Primary Health
Centres (PHC)/ Urban PHC, Community Health Centres (CHC) and DHs to address the issue of access to
medicine. The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare provides technical and financial support to the
States/UTs for conducting screenings and procurement of drugs for sickle cell anaemia, based on the
proposals received in the form of PIPs under NHM.
Patients living with SCD including newly-married couples and pregnant women are provided with the
following services/ facilities for improving their quality of life:
• Follow-up of diseased individuals at frequent intervals.
• Counselling regarding lifestyle management, pre-marriage and pre-natal decisions.
• Nutritional supplementation support through distribution of folic acid tablets.
• Conducting yoga and wellness sessions.
• Management of crisis symptoms and referral to higher facilities.
State- wise age-wise details of individuals who are sickle cell diseased as on 16.07.2026
Sr . State Age Age 2 - Age 10 - Age 18 - Age 25 - Age 40 Age
No 0 - 2 10 Year 18 Year 25 Year 40 Year + Year N/A
Name
Year
1 UTTARA
KHAND
0 0 4 0 2 0 02 RAJAST HAN
21 682 1,181 388 507 110 37
3 UTTAR
1 14 11 3 6 1 0
PRADESH
4 BIHAR 1 0
0 1 0 8 0
5 ASSAM
0 24 44 106 136 33 2
6 WEST
BENGAL 14 107 166 281 276 52 1
7 JHARKH AND
44 472 524 654 621 99 12
8 ODISHA
1,615 23,383 28,061 22,065 26,434 4,320 477
9 CHHATT
ISGARH 254 6,812 9,308 4,914 5,912 969 139
10 MADHY
590 8,804 12,182 8,815 8,688 1,098 259
A
PRADES
H
11 GUJARA
64 2,421 7,186 7,004 9,327 4,476 47
T
12 MAHAR
ASHTRA 263 6,211 7,527 6,828 7,890 1,134 38
13 ANDHRA
11 541 743 343 512 135 4
PRADES
H
14 KARNAT AKA
2 109 237 50 134 48 215 KERALA
19 281 311 267 379 241 7
16 TAMIL NADU
4 131 242 138 258 29 2
17 TELANG ANA
4 137 190 75 187 25 1
Annexure-II
State- wise age-wise details of individuals who are sickle cell carrier as on 16.07.2026
Sr. State Age 0 – Age 2 – Age 10 Age 18 Age 25 Age 40 + Age
no 2 Year 10 Year – 18 – 25 – 40 Year N/A
Name
Year Year Year
1 UTTARA
KHAND 1 0
47 2 15 0
4
2 RAJASTH
AN
36 3,080 1,219 1,598 725 189
1,602
3 UTTAR
PRADESH 0
19 10 29 14 0
13
4 BIHAR
0 0 1 0 0 0
0
5 ASSAM
7
194 516 714 89 3
105
6 WEST
BENGAL
64 649 1,325 1,220 271 7
274
7 JHARKHA
ND 63 1,294 1,066 1,643 140 59
8238 ODISHA
126,571
7,351 177,247 95,950 162,894 27,788 2,817
9 CHHATTI
SGARH
1,299 149,189 43,032 65,444 14,374 1,577
73,359
10 MADHYA
PRADESH
2,448 63,967 46,206 69,937 19,266 1,739
40,504
11 GUJARAT
1,846 95,982 104,595 184,842 129,946 724
30,793
12 MAHARA
SHTRA 1,138 51,224 55,832 78,564 11,580 349
26,474
13 ANDHRA
PRADESH
161 6,306 2,307 6,160 1,957 149
4,755
14 KARNAT
AKA
33 1,478 539 1,259 328 16
866
15 KERALA
81 1,115 811 1,350 994 24
1,099
16 TAMIL
NADU
80 2,912 2,329 3,378 88 35
876
17 TELANG
ANA
38 1,953 1,162 2,236 1,098 8
1,222
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