The central government will provide financial assistance under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) to state governments to help haemophilia patients, the Rajya Sabha was informed.
The Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram, launched by Congress President Sonia Gandhi Feb 6 under NRHM provides facilities for early detection and treatment of haemophilia, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said in a written reply Tuesday.
He said state governments could submit proposals for treatment of haemophilia cases in their respective programme implementation plans for consideration of central assistance.
Azad said diagnosis and treatment facilities for haemophilia disease are also available in central government hospitals like Lady Hardinge Medical College, Sucheta Kriplani Hospital, Safdarjung Hospital and Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital (all in New Delhi) and Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry.
Haemophilia, a congenital lifelong bleeding disorder that prevents the blood from clotting properly, leads to patients bleeding internally, mostly in the joints, muscles and vital organs like the brain. In many cases, the disease leads to permanent disability.
India has nearly over 100,000 haemophilia patients, most of whom face severe problems in treatment with only a few able to afford the high costs.
