Centre plans to set up National Tribal Health and Research Institute under AIIMS, New Delhi
The Union government is planning to set up a National Tribal Health and Research Institute (NTHRI) under the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi and there are also plans to hold a competition for the development of drugs to manage Sickle Cell Disease, especially prevalent among certain tribal populations in the country.
These announcements were made by Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Durgadas Uikey on Thursday (June 19, 2025) at an event to mark the World Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) Day at the AIIMS campus here. Mr. Uikey said the competition would be for the Bhagwan Birsa Munda Prize and the winning drug development project would get up to ₹10 crore in funding for taking the drug forward.
At the event meant to mark awareness of SCD, government officials said the Ministry had sanctioned Centre of Competence (CoC) in 15 tertiary care hospitals, including AIIMS, which were meant to provide 'state-of-the-art diagnostics for and management of SCD, including ante-natal diagnosis.'
Course in 'tribal medicine'
Mr. Uikey said there was also a proposal to offer a postgraduate course in 'tribal medicine', which 'aims to address the long-standing health inequities faced by tribal communities'.
The government, in its statement, said the 'specialised course' would be designed to develop a cadre of medical professionals with contextual knowledge, clinical skills and public health competencies 'tailored to tribal settings'.
Ministry officials told The Hindu that the government's efforts to develop a gene therapy for treating SCD were 'progressing on the right path' and was in the trials stage for the time being.
In a statement issued on Thursday (June 18, 2025), the Union government said there was only a single drug available for the management of SCD. 'There is currently no option to select a drug from a spectrum of drugs options for management of a patient, depending on his/her body conditions and severity of the disease.'
'This problem gets augmented in special situations such as pregnancy, other serious medical conditions etc. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the development of a new drug/s for the management of the disease,' it said on the announcement for the Bhagwan Birsa Munda Prize, adding that the competition for this drug development would be held by the Ministry in collaboration with AIIMS Delhi.
Guide in policymaking
On the setting up of the NTHRI, the government said this institute was meant to be an 'advanced research centre for diseases particularly predominant among tribal people'. It would be expected to guide the government in policymaking in addition to its functions as an outpatient/inpatient facility for providing 'highest quality medical care to tribal people'.
Currently, the Tribal Affairs Ministry's guidelines for managing SCD cases amongst tribal populations entailed a process involving screening, management and counselling. Under the government's programme run in collaboration with the Health Ministry, over 5.8 crore people had been screened for SCD across the 17 target States for SCD mission.
Of these, about 16.38 lakh people or close to 2.82% were found positive for SCD traits and a total of about 2.1 lakh people were found to be having Sickle Cell Disease. The proportion of people identified with SCD comprise about 0.36% of total screenings.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
27 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Sickle Cell patients growing in tribal pockets of undivided Visakhapatnam district, says expert
Sickle Cell Disease is prevalent among the tribal people, particularly those living in the Agency areas of Alluri Sitharama Raju district, according to Paripandla Sridevi, an Associate Professor in the Central Tribal University, Vizianagaram. An estimated 1% of the total population has SCD, and 4% are carriers of the sickle cell trait, Prof. Sridevi said on the eve of World Sickle Cell Day, which is observed on June 19 every year. Prof. Sridevi has been conducting research in the tribal areas of the undivided Visakhapatnam district in the North Andhra region, for the past three years. The research is being conducted as part of the ICMR–National Task Force Project, which has been going on for the past seven years. The SCD is caused by sickle cell gene, a defective one which looks like a sickle. People affected with the disease are born with two sickle cell genes—one from each parent. Those born with one sickle cell gene, called sickle cell trait, are generally healthy, but they can pass on the defective gene to their children, she said. 'Initially, Prof. Sudhakar of the Department of Human Genetics, Andhra University, has worked on the project. Then I worked on the same project in Madhya Pradesh. I have been working on the project for the past three years at Gannela, Madagada and Paderu of ASR district,' Prof. Sridevi told The Hindu. 'I have noticed that SCD patients are unable to get blood transfusions and hydroxyurea on time due to poor amenities in the tribal areas. Stigma is attached to the disease as many tribal people think it is a curse. Some others dismiss it as common anaemia. We train ASHA workers to create awareness among the tribals on the need to opt for timely treatment for SCD and to dispel the myths,' she said. Prof. Sridevi said such research projects act as a bridge between the tribal people and the government as they bring the issues to the notice of the authorities concerned. 'We want the treatment facilities of SCD to be improved. We counsel tribal people about the dangers associated with marriages between close relations, a common practice in the Agency areas,' she said. Quoting from data provided by ASR district DM&HO Dr. Jamal Basha, Prof. Sridevi said that 4,10,380 have been screened for sickle cell anaemia in the undivided Visakhapatnam district as on June 18. Among them, 1,488 were identified as SCD positive, 12,599 carriers and 3,80,665 were negative. The government has made arrangements for the necessary medicines and nutrition for the patients with the goal completely eradicating SCD in Andhra Pradesh by 2047.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
City AIIMS to get CoE status for research on sickle cell anaemia
1 2 Bhubaneswar: AIIMS Bhubaneswar is set to be accorded the status of Centre of Excellence (CoE) for management and research of sickle cell disease (SCD), announced Union tribal affairs minister Jual Oram during the World Sickle Cell Awareness Day celebration at AIIMS Bhubaneswar on Thursday. "The Centre of Excellence tag will further strengthen AIIMS Bhubaneswar's capabilities in advanced research and quality treatment in sickle cell disease," said Oram. He said the govt is committed to eradicating sickle cell anaemia by 2047. "So far, 5.79 crore people were screened across the country. Among them, 5.55 crore tested negative, 16.38 lakh were identified as carriers, and 2.1 lakh were diagnosed with the disease," he added. AIIMS Bhubaneswar currently treats more than 700 registered SCD patients, over 500 of whom are in the 0 to 19 age group. "The institute offers regular diagnostic services, treatment, and carrier screening, including for extended family members of affected persons," said AIIMS Bhubaneswar executive director Dr Ashutosh Biswas. He said the institute also provides pre-natal diagnostic services to detect conditions like Down syndrome, neural tube defects, thalassaemia, and sickle cell anaemia within the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. "If both parents are carriers, there is a 25 per cent chance that the child may be affected," he added. During this visit, Oram toured various facilities of the institute and interacted with SCD patients and their family members. He also participated in a review meeting and a scientific session focused on sickle cell disease. "Facilities at AIIMS Bhubaneswar also include exchange transfusion for patients experiencing stroke or undergoing major surgeries. Furthermore, newborn screening for genetic metabolic disorders such as congenital hypothyroidism and congenital adrenal hyperplasia is actively being carried out," said the national institute in an official statement. Bhubaneswar: AIIMS Bhubaneswar is set to be accorded the status of Centre of Excellence (CoE) for management and research of sickle cell disease (SCD), announced Union tribal affairs minister Jual Oram during the World Sickle Cell Awareness Day celebration at AIIMS Bhubaneswar on Thursday. "The Centre of Excellence tag will further strengthen AIIMS Bhubaneswar's capabilities in advanced research and quality treatment in sickle cell disease," said Oram. He said the govt is committed to eradicating sickle cell anaemia by 2047. "So far, 5.79 crore people were screened across the country. Among them, 5.55 crore tested negative, 16.38 lakh were identified as carriers, and 2.1 lakh were diagnosed with the disease," he added. AIIMS Bhubaneswar currently treats more than 700 registered SCD patients, over 500 of whom are in the 0 to 19 age group. "The institute offers regular diagnostic services, treatment, and carrier screening, including for extended family members of affected persons," said AIIMS Bhubaneswar executive director Dr Ashutosh Biswas. He said the institute also provides pre-natal diagnostic services to detect conditions like Down syndrome, neural tube defects, thalassaemia, and sickle cell anaemia within the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. "If both parents are carriers, there is a 25 per cent chance that the child may be affected," he added. During this visit, Oram toured various facilities of the institute and interacted with SCD patients and their family members. He also participated in a review meeting and a scientific session focused on sickle cell disease. "Facilities at AIIMS Bhubaneswar also include exchange transfusion for patients experiencing stroke or undergoing major surgeries. Furthermore, newborn screening for genetic metabolic disorders such as congenital hypothyroidism and congenital adrenal hyperplasia is actively being carried out," said the national institute in an official statement.
The Hindu
9 hours ago
- The Hindu
Goa Medical College advisory board to have experts from AIIMS, WHO, says State Health Minister
The Goa Government will set up an advisory board of experts to monitor the functioning of the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), State Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said on Thursday (June 19, 2025). The board, which will be headed by the State Health Minister with representatives from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), World Health Organization (WHO), the Union Government, and specialists from across the country, is expected to enhance healthcare services at the hospital on par with international standards. The State's Additional Secretary (Health) will be the advisory board's Member Secretary. Board members will guide the team of doctors at the GMCH, Mr. Rane told The Hindu. 'The advisory board for the GMCH existed in the past when I was the Health Minister, but when the next Minister came in, he dismantled it. Back then also, we had medical experts from AIIMS, the WHO, and a couple of doctors from Mumbai. This advisory board is absolutely crucial, with independent experts onboard, along with the other government agencies. The board will also decide the standard operating procedures for specialised treatments in the hospital,' Mr. Rane said. The GMCH in Bambolim, north Goa, is the largest government-run hospital in the State, and one of the oldest medical colleges in India, with over 1,500 beds catering to patients from Goa, Maharashtra, and Karnataka. The medical college, established in 1842 as the Escola Medico Cirurgica de Goa, was originally formed to train doctors to serve the erstwhile Portuguese colony in Goa. Following Independence, the GMCH, which was renamed as such in 1963, became a part of the Indian healthcare system. Mr. Rane also said the State was in the process of bringing experts in emergency medicine to the hospital. 'Emergency medicine plays a vital role in providing timely and effective care to people experiencing sudden illnesses or injuries, including road traffic accidents. We are also trying to bring in experts from private hospitals such as the Sir H. N. Reliance Foundation Hospital and Research Centre, as they are investing a lot in research, and their knowledge will benefit our doctors and patients here,' he said. The team of 12 or 13 doctors will be from Mumbai, Manipal, Delhi, Bhopal, and Arunachal Pradesh. 'We are still in the process of finalising and bringing everyone onboard. So far, we have Dr. R. P. Srivastava, past president, the Association of Surgeons of India; Dr. Ajai Singh from AIIMS Bhopal; and Dr. Sagar Galwankar, emergency medicine specialist associated with AIIMS. From Mumbai, we will have Dr. Ashok Johari, renowned orthopaedic surgeon; Padmashri Dr. Amit Maydeo, Chairman of the Institute of Gastrosciences, Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital; and Dr. Sunil Bandekar from the Breach Candy Hospital. Once we have the team, we will divide them into two groups and have a quarterly in-person meeting, and monthly virtual meeting,' Mr. Rane said, adding that the State Government wanted to increase the efficiency of the hospital and provide good care to patients, with the ultimate objective of helping the poor and needy. 'The advisory board will further strengthen Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of providing international standard healthcare in all the states and making healthcare affordable and accessible for all,' Mr. Rane said.
