
TSCS, Fernandez Hospital team up for prenatal testing
The Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Society (TSCS) has partnered with Fernandez Hospital to launch prenatal diagnostic testing for couples identified as carriers of Thalassemia or Sickle Cell Anaemia. The testing will be offered at the Prenatal Diagnostic Centre at Kamala Hospital and Research Centre, a unit of TSCS in Hyderabad.
This initiative is part of TSCS's broader goal to eliminate births of children with Thalassemia Major and Sickle Cell Anaemia by 2035. The society's ongoing antenatal screening programme identifies carrier couples early in pregnancy. If both partners are carriers, there is a 25% risk in each pregnancy that their child will be affected. The new facility will allow for early prenatal diagnostic testing in such cases, enabling timely decisions for at-risk families, said a release.

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1 2 3 Vijayawada: The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Mangalagiri will soon launch bone marrow transplant (BMT) surgeries. The procedure is the only way to provide relief to patients suffering from Thalassemia (a type of genetic disorder that affects haemoglobin production, leading to anemia, particularly among children. BMT surgeries are currently available in only 11 top hospitals across the country. The govt has identified that 2,129 children from across the state are suffering from Thalassemia. Its treatment in India involves a combination of therapies depending on the severity of the condition, with blood transfusions and iron chelation being common for moderate to severe cases. "Bone marrow transplants are a curative option, especially for severe cases with a matched donor. However, this facility is not widely available due to its high costs. Families mostly depend on regular blood transfusions to provide healthy red blood cells and haemoglobin, alleviating the symptoms of anemia," said a senior AIIMS doctor. As BMT requires specialized facilities and expertise, the Centre has identified AIIMS-Mangalagiri to start the services. He said stem cell or bone marrow transplant involves replacing the patient's diseased bone marrow with healthy stem cells from a compatible donor, which can cure the disease. A matched donor is important for effective bone marrow transplants. BMT surgeries can cost anywhere between Rs 8 lakh to Rs 40 lakh, which is unaffordable for many families. A fully matched sibling or parent donor is ideal, but finding a match is also challenging. "Haplo-identical transplants, where the donor is not a fully matched sibling or parent, are also increasingly used," said a senior official of National Health Mission. The Karnataka govt recently included BMT in Karnataka Arogya Seva linked with the Ayushman Bharat scheme. The state health department carried out a screening in several districts and identified seven children with Thalassemia major and sent them for BMT at Narayana Hrudayalaya in Bengaluru. GFX Gene-testing laboratory to be launched in KGH in Vizag under National Health Mission It will be the first such lab in the state Tests would be conducted to determine if the mother of Thalassemia kids will give birth to another child with similar disease Gene tests will also be conducted on pregnant woman who already gave birth to a Thalassemia child Centre is also supplying special kits to prevent infections among Thalassemia children during blood transmission


The Hindu
23-05-2025
- The Hindu
TSCS, Fernandez Hospital team up for prenatal testing
The Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Society (TSCS) has partnered with Fernandez Hospital to launch prenatal diagnostic testing for couples identified as carriers of Thalassemia or Sickle Cell Anaemia. The testing will be offered at the Prenatal Diagnostic Centre at Kamala Hospital and Research Centre, a unit of TSCS in Hyderabad. This initiative is part of TSCS's broader goal to eliminate births of children with Thalassemia Major and Sickle Cell Anaemia by 2035. The society's ongoing antenatal screening programme identifies carrier couples early in pregnancy. If both partners are carriers, there is a 25% risk in each pregnancy that their child will be affected. The new facility will allow for early prenatal diagnostic testing in such cases, enabling timely decisions for at-risk families, said a release.


Hans India
20-05-2025
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Call for urgent need for genetic blood disorders awareness
Vijayawada: Minister for Health, Medical, and Family Welfare Y Satya Kumar Yadav on Monday stressed the critical need for increased public awareness regarding genetic blood disorders like Thalassemia, Sickle Cell Anaemia and Haemophilia. He was speaking at the inauguration of a two-day 'Orientation Training on Advanced Modalities in Diagnosis and Treatment of Blood Diseases' programme here on Monday, jointly organised by National Health Mission and Haemophilia Society, aims at equipping healthcare professionals with the latest knowledge in diagnosing and treating these conditions. The Minister highlighted the prevalence of these genetic disorders in the State, stating Andhra Pradesh has approximately 1,900 individuals suffering from Haemophilia, and roughly 2,100 people are battling Thalassemia, with a similar number affected by Sickle Cell Anaemia.' 'The State government is committed to identifying affected individuals and providing them with regular, free blood transfusions,' the Minister affirmed. He noted that five Integrated Centers for Hemoglobinopathy and Haemophilia (ICHH) across the State are already conducting preliminary diagnostic tests. Once a diagnosis is confirmed, the government provides free treatment and medicines. Beyond medical treatment, the State government is also providing a monthly pension of Rs 10,000 to those afflicted with Thalassemia, Sickle Cell Anaemia, and Haemophilia. Satya Kumar Yadav also provided an update on the ongoing Sickle Cell Anaemia screening programme in tribal areas, targeting individuals under 40 years old. 'Out of 1.9 million people requiring screening in these areas, we have screened 1.05 million so far, and the process is continuing,' he stated. He revealed that over 19,000 carriers have been identified, and 2,100 individuals have been diagnosed with the disease. Following genetic screening for Sickle Cell Anaemia, identification cards are being issued to those diagnosed. Minister Yadav also shared that Bhuvaneswari, wife of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, has undertaken a fundraising initiative in Vijayawada for Thalassemia patients. He mentioned the emergence of new technologies like gene editing, expressing confidence in the expertise of professors in government hospitals to provide high-quality services to economically disadvantaged patients. Dr Kameswara Prasad (APSACS APD in-charge), Dr Prasanna (Joint Director), Dr Devi (State Immunisation Officer), Dr NBSV Prasad (Secretary, Haemophilia Society Vijayawada Chapter), nodal officers for Sickle Cell Anaemia, nodal officers from the five ICHH centers, Dr Ramachandra Raju, Dr YD Ramarao, and other medical professionals also participated.