Thalassemia: 50 per cent patients are insured, says Apollo

Chennai: Apollo Cancer Centre, among the first private hospitals in the state to collaborate with the government for performing bone marrow transplants (BMT) under the state health insurance scheme, said nearly half of the patients treated for Thalassemia major in the hospital were covered by insurance.

Doctors said they came across a case where a six-year-old patient from Namakkal who needed monthly blood transfusions from an early age.

“BMT was the best solution. But we only had a half-matched donor, her father. It was a challenge but with advanced medical interventions, we were successful. Shreya is now thalassemia free,” said Dr Revathi Raj, senior consultant at pediatrics and hematology oncology at the Apollo Cancer Centre.

At least 165 young patients affected by Thalassemia major have benefitted from BMTs at the hospital under the state health insurance scheme, she said.