(a) whether there is any demand to include sickle-cell disease in the National
Health Programme in order to eradicate it;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the reaction of the Government thereto?
(a) whether there is any demand to include sickle-cell disease in the National
Health Programme in order to eradicate it;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the reaction of the Government thereto?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE (SMT. PANABAKA LAKSHMI)
(a)to(c) According to Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) bodies working
in the area of sickle cell disease (SCD) have been requesting for a National
Programme for intervention and control of sickle cell disease to benefit the patients.
Haemoglobinopathies have been a priority area of research and the Council has
recently completed a multicentric study on Intervention programme for SCD patients
amongst primarily tribal populations of 4 states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Orissa and
Tamilnadu and the intervention package has been conveyed to these State Govts.
For implementation. States of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Chattisgarh have already
initiated certain activities in this regard. As the problem is localized and State
Governments can tackle it, it is felt that there is no need to include this aspect in the
National Health Programme.