Sickle cell anemia is one of the health problems that has the highest burden in rural and tribal areas of India. According to an estimate, this serious disease is being seen in more than seven crore tribal people. Keeping in mind its risks, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, during the Budget 2023 speech, had set a target of eradicating this disease from India by the year 2047.
In July 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the National Sickle Cell Anemia Elimination Mission 2047 at a program organized in the Shahdol district of Madhya Pradesh.
India has now achieved great success in the direction of prevention of this disease. An Indian company has manufactured a medicine for this disease. On Monday (March 18), Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya gave this information by tweeting and congratulating the people.
The Health Minister gave information
The Union Health Minister said through social media, many congratulations to all of you for developing a medicine for the prevention of sickle cell disease. PM Modi launched the Sickle Cell Anemia Eradication Mission in 2023. This medicine will prove to be a boon, especially for our tribal sisters, brothers and children and we will soon be able to get rid of this disease.
Medicine available at a very low cost
Earlier, drug maker AKUMS had announced that it has launched the country's first indigenous Hydroxyurea Oral Solution, which can be used to treat sickle cell disease in children. The company said that this medicine will cost the government Rs 600. It will be made available at a price per vial which is approximately 1% of the currently available price of the drug globally at Rs ₹77,000 (per vial).
The company says that this medicine can remain stable at room temperature, whereas other medicines used around the world require a temperature of 2-8 degrees Celsius for storage.
The government's mission will gain momentum
The company has not mentioned the price of the medicine in the market at present.
Health experts are seeing this drug as a big success as the government has launched a mission to eliminate sickle cell disease so that the country can be free from this disease in the coming two decades. In this mission, the focus is on screening people so that those with symptoms can get timely treatment. It is noteworthy that due to sickle cell disease, there is a risk of developing many types of serious health complications.
Know about sickle cell disease
Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder in which red blood cells become deformed and begin to break down. In this, blood cells start dying rapidly due to which the patient becomes deficient in healthy red blood cells (sickle cell anemia). Such patients may suffer from frequent infections, pain, and fatigue.
If this disease is diagnosed in time, then in addition to medicines, treatment may require blood transfusion and in some serious situations, bone marrow transplant. Now with the arrival of this indigenous medicine, it is expected that the treatment of patients will become easier.
(PC: ISTOCK)
