Lok Sabha Question No. 233 (STARRED), answered on 2023-08-04
Subject: National Mission on Thalassemia
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Gautham Sigamani Pon

## GOVERNMENT OFINDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE

## LOKSABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. 233 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 4 TH AUGUST, 2023

## NATIONALMISSION ON THALASSEMIA

## *233. DR. PON GAUTHAM SIGAMANI:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to launch a National Mission to tackle thalassemia;
- (b) if so the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has any plan to start country-wide screening for thalassemia;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether the Government has set any target(s) to achieve thalassemia prevention over the next 25 years and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR MANSUKH MANDAVIYA)

- (a) to ( e) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 233 FOR 4 TH AUGUST, 2023

(a) to (e): As per Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi, an estimated 7,500 to 12,000 children with beta-thalassemia are born every year. Thalassemia is one of the inherited disorders of red blood cells that comes under the category of Haemoglobinopathies.

Public Health and Hospitals being a state Subject, the primary responsibility of management of Thalassemia lies with the respective State Governments. However, under National Health Mission (NHM), support is being provided to States/UTs to strengthen their healthcare system including support for prevention and management of Thalassemia at public healthcare facilities, including for low income patients, based on the proposals submitted by the States/UTs in their Programme Implementation Plans.

Under NHM, Comprehensive 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 Guidelines provide support for screening of hemoglobinopathies. Various methods are prescribed which States can adopt as per requirement. The guidelines also detail the strategies for management of thalassemia disease. These include management of thalassemia major (Blood transfusion therapy with packed red blood cell, iron chelation for iron overload, monitoring and management of complication and psychological support etc.). Guidelines also include management of non transfusion dependent thalassemia (NTDT). The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare provides technical and financial support to the States/UTs to strengthen the public healthcare system for providing above services as well as provision of Blood Bank facilities, Day Care Centre, Medicines, Lab services, IEC activities, Training of HR etc.

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare in association with Coal India limited, 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 from CIL CSR funds. This scheme provides for BMT in ten prominent hospitals spread across the country.

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