HYDERABAD: Every year, a total of 600 children carrying HBA2 gene are born in AP and Telangana states, resulting in a deadly blood disorder Thalassemia.
According to estimates, about 25 per cent of tribals are carriers of sickle cell anaemia genes. About four per cent of general population in the country are affected by HBA2 genes that results in Thalassemia.
Such is the complexity of the disease that Thalassemia patients need medication and blood transfusion at regular intervals which costs around `25,000 per month per patient, K Ratnavali, a parent of Thalassemia patient, said.
As the treatment costs are beyond the capacity of economically backward families, the Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Society urged the government to make Arogyasree Scheme applicable to Thalassemia patients as well.
Although the society has been identified by the united AP government to treat the patients, delay in release of the empanelment order is causing hardships to the patients, said Aleem Baig of the Society.
About 2,000 patients who registered with the society, urged the government to bring them under the ambit of Aarogyasri Health Care Trust.