Latest news with #TBSY
Time of India
31-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Thalassemia cases surge in Punjab, account for 6% of national burden
Chandigarh: Punjab has emerged as a significant contributor to the national thalassemia burden, accounting for nearly 6% of all registered cases across the country in 2025. As many as 257 thalassemia patients were registered in the state so far this year, including 87 children under the age of 12. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Across the country, 4,361 patients were recorded by July 22, 2025, according to official data shared by the Union health ministry in the Rajya Sabha. Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder in which the body produces an abnormal or insufficient amount of haemoglobin — the protein in red blood cells responsible for carrying oxygen. The disorder leads to the destruction of red blood cells and results in anaemia. Symptoms vary with severity and type, but commonly include fatigue, jaundice, shortness of breath, and growth delays in children. Severe cases may lead to bone deformities, organ enlargement, and other complications, while mild cases may remain asymptomatic. The current numbers mark the first full-scale registry of thalassemia patients since the disease was integrated into the Sickle Cell Portal in 2023. This digital platform enables state govts to upload patient and screening data to support monitoring, follow-up, and early intervention. While states such as Bihar (1,410 patients), Uttar Pradesh (1,546), and Odisha (454) reported higher absolute case counts, Punjab's data is notable because it reported zero cases in 2023 and 2024. The sudden jump in 2025 is attributed to improved reporting mechanisms rather than a surge in disease incidence. The ministry of health and family welfare clarified that state-level registration began after the thalassemia module was added to the Sickle Cell Portal in 2023. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Punjab has also seen a significant rise in financial allocations under the National Health Mission (NHM) for blood disorders, including thalassemia. In 2024–25, the state was granted Rs 7,024.47 lakh—more than double the Rs 3,148.08 lakh allocated in the previous year. This places Punjab among the top-funded states, following only Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. According to the health ministry, while thalassemia management primarily falls under the purview of respective state and UT govts, the Centre supports preventive and treatment services through the NHM. This includes assistance for blood bank infrastructure, day care centres, medicines, diagnostic labs, awareness campaigns (IEC), and human resource training, based on state-specific programme implementation plans. In partnership with Coal India Limited (CIL), the ministry is also implementing the Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojana (TBSY). Under this scheme, financial aid of up to Rs 10 lakh is provided for bone marrow transplants (BMT) for eligible patients, funded through CIL's corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme. Seventeen hospitals across India have been empanelled under the scheme to carry out BMT procedures. Additionally, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) regulates the cost of drugs used for thalassemia treatment. Three iron chelation drugs — Desferrioxamine, Deferiprone, and Deferasirox—are provided at public health facilities with pricing governed by the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013. Notably, the ceiling price for Desferrioxamine powder for injection (500 mg), a scheduled formulation, has already been fixed to ensure affordability. MSID:: 122998585 413 |
The Hindu
10-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Coal India Limited felicitates CMC for Thalassemia care
Coal India Limited has awarded the Department of Haematology of the Christian Medical College (CMC) in Vellore for its work in thalassemia treatment and care A release said that the award – as part of the CIL's Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojana (TBSY) programme – was presented by Union Minister of Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy to Gomathi Joseph, Senior Social Worker of the department, and her team at a function in New Delhi recently. The award is titled 'Gift of Life through Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojana', a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of the CIL, and the scheme aims at supporting underprivileged children suffering from thalassemia. As many as 208 children have undergone life-saving transplants at the CMC under the scheme, to mark the World Thalassemia Day. Vikram Mathews, Director, CMC, appreciated the efforts of the Haematology Department for securing the award, the release added.
