New Delhi- A total of 4,361 thalassemia patients have been registered across India as of July 2025 through the National Sickle Cell Portal, including 2,579 children under the age of 12, the Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Smt. Anupriya Patel informed in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
To improve care and monitoring, a dedicated thalassemia module was integrated into the Sickle Cell Portal in 2023. This allows states and union territories to systematically record, monitor, and follow up on patients, enhancing surveillance and data-based intervention for thalassemia management.
While the responsibility of managing thalassemia patients primarily lies with State and UT governments, the National Health Mission (NHM) continues to provide comprehensive support. This includes strengthening infrastructure for screening, availability of medicines, blood banks, laboratory services, day care centers, and training of healthcare personnel. States receive assistance based on their specific proposals submitted through the Programme Implementation Plans.
In a significant financial relief initiative, the Union Health Ministry in collaboration with Coal India Limited (CIL) is implementing the Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojana. Under this scheme, eligible patients are provided with financial assistance of up to Rs.10 lakh for undergoing bone marrow transplants. Funded through the CSR initiative of CIL, this scheme currently covers treatment at 17 empanelled hospitals across the country.
This multipronged effort aims to reduce the burden of thalassemia in India while ensuring that children suffering from the disease receive access to timely and life-saving medical support.
