The Ernakulam district panchayat will soon begin providing free medicines to about 250 haemophilia patients in the district. Medicines worth Rs. 45 lakh would be purchased this financial year for the purpose, said Eldhose Kunnappillil, district panchayat president on Sunday.
The panchayat decided to extend support to the patients considering the high cost of medicines, he said.
The name of the haemophilia treatment centre at the District Hospital in Aluva would also be changed to Haemophilia Treatment Centre of Excellence. The Aluva facility was South India’s first in the government sector, he added.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy would inaugurate the national haemophilia conclave at the haemophilia centre on March 20, he said. Experts from India and abroad are expected to participate in the conclave.
Around 400 patients take regular treatment at the Aluva centre since there are no such facilities in other parts of the State. Mr. Kunnappillil said it was the suggestion from the Ernakulam district panchayat that patients in other districts be provided free medicine with the support of the respective district panchayats. It is estimated that there are around 6,000 haemophilia patients in the State.
Chief Minister to inaugurate national haemophilia conclave on March 20.
