Ranchi: In a major health initiative, the Jharkhand government has launched a comprehensive plan to make the state free from serious blood disorders like Thalassemia and Sickle Cell disease. As part of this program, mandatory screening will be conducted for every resident, and the government will bear the entire cost of treatment for affected individuals.
Health Minister Dr. Irfan Ansari emphasized the need for accurate data collection, noting that currently there is no precise record of patients suffering from Thalassemia or Sickle Cell disease in any district of the state. This lack of data has been a significant challenge for the state’s healthcare system, unlike most other states in India, which maintain extensive records of such conditions.
State to Cover Full Treatment Costs
To address this challenge, every district will carry out mandatory screening to gather real-time data on these diseases, enabling timely medical intervention. Dr. Ansari assured that these are extremely serious conditions, and the state government is committed to ensuring treatment for all affected patients. Under the new plan, the full cost of treatment for Thalassemia and Sickle Cell patients will now be covered by the government.
Enhanced Patient Care with BMT Facility
For critical cases requiring life-saving procedures, Ranchi Sadar Hospital has begun establishing a Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) facility. The government aims to completely eradicate these diseases from Jharkhand. To achieve this, the state is strengthening healthcare infrastructure and bringing in experienced doctors from across India. The necessary budget for these initiatives will be fully provided by the state government.
Modernization of Blood Banks
Previously, patients had to navigate both private and government blood banks due to the lack of accurate data. To remedy this, all district-level blood banks are being upgraded with state-of-the-art equipment, including next-generation blood testing machines, advanced HIV/AIDS screening, and the latest blood safety technologies. These modern facilities will soon be available in every blood bank across the state, preventing tragic incidents like the one in Chaibasa.
This multi-faceted approach is expected not only to reduce the burden of these diseases but also to significantly strengthen Jharkhand’s healthcare infrastructure, providing patients with high-quality, life-saving care.