As the number of thalassemia patients is increasing in India, need for a prevention and control program is felt. With preventive health checks not being the norm in India, people suffering from thalassemia are unknowingly passing on this genetic disorder to their children. The need of the hour is to have a national policy on thalassemia which will help in not just creating awareness about the disease but also ensure strategies to prevent its spread, diagnosis, and treatment for all. Even though we have the highest number of thalassemia patients in South Asia, the promising treatment modalities like bone marrow transplant (BMT) and gene therapy have their own share of risks and shortcomings due to a lack of incentives and support for the research studies.

To save valuable lives, setting up of small or micro blood donation camps or mobile vans can be done following the social distancing norms in the areas of green zones across the country with the help of various welfare organizations. Making appeals through social media platforms to healthy people to come out in numbers and donate blood is one way to create an informed society.

Read more:
How COVID-19 is endangering the lives of Thalassemia patients - National Herald

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