Countrywide survey of thalassaemia patients to be carried out

Bhopal, Feb 15 (UNI) A countrywide survey of thalassaemia patients was being carried out by a voluntary organisation as part of its efforts to get handicapped status for such patients to facilitate better medicare for them.

Madhya Pradesh Thalassaemia Kids Society (MPTKS) Founder Secretary Sajid Khan said the Kids Society would impress upon the Centre to grant handicapped status for thalassaemia patients.

''Efforts would be made to get the prices of costly medicines of prominent foreign companies reduced,'' Dr Khan said.

He alleged that the Madhya Pradesh Government was adopting apathetic behaviour towards thalassaemia patients resulting in several deaths.

''Several thousands of children in the state were suffering from thalassaemia. These children require blood transfusion every 15-20 days,'' he claimed, adding that hemoglobin level was about seven per cent in many patients instead of minimum required 10 per cent.

In the state capital alone. 250 patients were suffering thalassaemia and needed 4,500 unit blood every year. However, availability was just half of the requirement.

Dr Khan said the Kids Society had started a campaign in which thalassaemia-affected children are adopted by a group.

UNI RAJ-PS 1423