Medanta & Coal India Partner for Affordable Thalassemia Treatment

This collaboration is part of Coal India’s ‘Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojana’, which financially supports families needing life-saving stem cell transplants.  

Medanta, one of India’s leading multi-specialty hospitals, has partnered with Coal India to provide affordable treatment options for children suffering from thalassemia. 

This collaboration is part of Coal India’s Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojana, which financially supports families needing life-saving stem cell transplants.  

Under the terms of the agreement, Coal India has committed to an initial advance of INR 50 Lakh to Medanta to kickstart the program. The funds will subsidize stem cell transplants for children diagnosed with thalassemia, offering up to INR 10 Lakh per patient.  

Coal India has also pledged additional funding, up to INR 2 Cr, to boost the program further if Medanta treats an average of more than 10 children annually under this scheme. 

This support could play a critical role in alleviating the financial burden on families grappling with the high costs associated with thalassemia treatment.  

Dr Naresh Trehan, chairman and managing director of Medanta, said, "Medanta Gurugram, with its advanced facilities and commitment to comprehensive care for thalassemia patients, has been recognized by Coal India for its role in life-saving treatments. This partnership allows us to extend these critical services to children who need them most. Through this collaboration, we are committed to offering these young patients a new lease on life."

The Thalassemia Challenge in India  

Thalassemia is one of the most prevalent genetic blood disorders in India, often referred to as the "Thalassemia capital of the world." 

One in eight people in the country is estimated to be carriers of the thalassemia gene. Thalassemia major, the most severe form of the disease, affects between 100,000 to 150,000 children in India. Around 10,000 to 15,000 infants are born with this condition every year.  

This blood disorder leads to chronic anemia, requiring regular blood transfusions. It also causes various other complications, including bone pain, skeletal deformities, and growth impairments, severely affecting a child's quality of life. The only known cure for thalassemia is a stem cell transplant, also known as a bone marrow transplant (BMT).  

However, the cost of these procedures, which can run into lakhs of rupees, often makes it difficult for many families to access them. 

By offering up to INR 10 Lakh per patient for stem cell transplants, this partnership aims to address this issue, making these life-saving treatments more accessible and affordable.  

The partnership between Medanta and Coal India is focused on scaling up access to stem cell transplants, which remain the only curative option for thalassemia major patients. 

Although the procedure has been performed successfully in several hospitals across India, the high cost remains a deterrent for many families.  

The need for affordable treatment options for thalassemia is a significant public health issue in India, where the disease disproportionately affects children from low-income families. 

"The program aligns with our goal of providing accessible healthcare solutions for all. Thalassemia treatment is expensive and complicated, and this collaboration helps us bring these critical services to more families in need," Dr Trehan further explained.  

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