Lok Sabha Question No. 4607 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-20
Subject: Availability of Medicines for Sickle Cell Disease in Tribal Areas
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Shyamkumar Daulat Barve

## GOVERNMENT OFINDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4607 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20 TH MARCH, 2026

## AVAILABILITY OF MEDICINES FOR SICKLE CELL DISEASE IN TRIBAL AREAS

## 4607. SHRI SHYAMKUMAR DAULATBARVE:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is implementing schemes under the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission for screening, treatment and prevention of Sickle Cell Disease in tribal areas of the country, if so, the details thereof;

(b) the percentage of the total tribal population screened so far and out of them the number of persons identified as Sickle Cell carriers and Sickle Cell Disease patients along with State/Union Territory-wise details;

(c) whether the Government is aware of the shortages of Hydroxyurea and Folic Acid at Primary Health Centres in tribal-dominated areas including the Vidarbha region of the State of Maharashtra, if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to address the same; and

(d) whether the Government is considering any proposal to provide financial assistance or pension to tribal families affected by Sickle Cell Disease or rendered unable to work due to the disease and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SMT. ANUPRIYAPATEL)

(a) to (d). Under 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) upto Ayushman Arogya Mandir (AAM) level in affected 17 tribal states for diagnosis of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD).

As reported by States on SCD portal, as on 15.03.2026, more than 6.97 crore screenings have been conducted in tribal dominated areas of the country, and a total of 2,40,279 individuals have been identified as diseased and 19,65,040 as carriers of SCD. State-wise number of tribal population screened and the number of persons identified as Sickle Cell carriers and Sickle Cell Diseased, is at Annexure.

National Free Drugs Service initiative and Free diagnostic Service has been rolled out to ensure availability of essential drugs and diagnostic facilities and reduce out of pocket expenditure of the patients visiting public health facilities.

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. To monitor the drug procurement and ensure the availability of essential medicines in public health facilities, Drugs and Vaccine Distribution Management System (DVDMS) has been launched by the Govt. of India. Public Health' & 'Hospitals' are State subjects. This Ministry provides technical and financial support to the States/UTs including Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, for conducting screenings and procurement of drugs including Hydroxyurea and Folic Acid for sickle cell anaemia, based on the proposals received in the form of Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) under NHM.

Patients living with SCD are provided with the following services/ facilities for improving their quality of life through AAM- Sub Health Centres (SHC) and AAM- PHCs:

- Follow-up of diseased individuals at frequent intervals.
- Counseling 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 PIP approvals towards screening for Blood Disorders under NHM from F.Y. 2022-23 to F.Y. 2025-26 in the country is as follows:

## (Rs. in Lakhs)

| Financial Year   | All India   |
|------------------|-------------|
| 2022-23          | 28,991.84   |
| 2023-24          | 44,855.32   |
| 2024-25          | 44,754.53   |
| 2025-26          | 53,904.10   |

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Annexure referred to in reply to parts (a) to (d) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4607 for reply on 20.03.2026

Annexure State-wise number of tribal population screened, number of persons identified as Sickle Cell

carriers and Sickle Cell Diseased, as on 15.03.2026

| S.No.   | State Name     | Numberof people Screened   | Numbers of Sickle Cell carriers   | Numbers of Sickle Cell Diseased   |
|---------|----------------|----------------------------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
| 1       | CHHATTISGARH   | 1,73,52,532                | 3,41,628                          | 27,850                            |
| 2       | MADHYA PRADESH | 1,30,97,122                | 2,39,473                          | 38,575                            |
| 3       | MAHARASHTRA    | 1,00,33,422                | 2,12,845                          | 28,307                            |
| 4       | GUJARAT        | 80,23,780                  | 5,43,808                          | 30,310                            |
| 5       | ODISHA         | 62,71,477                  | 5,61,357                          | 1,03,117                          |
| 6       | RAJASTHAN      | 37,06,695                  | 8,453                             | 2,886                             |
| 7       | JHARKHAND      | 27,88,493                  | 4,347                             | 2,331                             |
| 8       | WEST BENGAL    | 25,00,170                  | 3,701                             | 890                               |
| 9       | ANDHRA PRADESH | 14,89,997                  | 21,765                            | 2,279                             |
| 10      | ASSAM          | 11,82,605                  | 1,574                             | 331                               |
| 11      | TELANGANA      | 11,37,233                  | 7,482                             | 579                               |
| 12      | UTTAR PRADESH  | 7,64,871                   | 85                                | 33                                |
| 13      | TAMILNADU      | 4,51,564                   | 8,738                             | 711                               |
| 14      | KARNATAKA      | 3,57,266                   | 4,532                             | 580                               |
| 15      | BIHAR          | 2,40,334                   | 1                                 | 9                                 |
| 16      | UTTARAKHAND    | 1,53,670                   | 69                                | 6                                 |
| 17      | KERALA         | 1,77,959                   | 5,182                             | 1,485                             |
|         | Total          | 6,97,29,190                | 19,65,040                         | 2,40,279                          |

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