The corridors adjoining the intensive care medical unit at the Annal Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital here were packed on Tuesday morning.
More than 100 haemophilia patients and their families congregated as a gesture of gratitude to government for free medicines on World Haemophilia Day.
“We are here to say thank you to government for free factors and to doctors, nurses, postgraduate and nursing students for their commitment,” said Nicholas, a counsellor with the Haemophilia Society.
Haemophilia is a genetic disorder where patients suffer from severe bleeding due to lack or deficiency of essential blood clotting factors. Even a minor wound may lead to uncontrolled bleeding until treatment, injection of factors that arrest bleeding, is administered.
Clotting factors cost around Rs.12 per unit in the market. Though they are availed at subsidised costs through the Tiruchi Chapter of Haemophilia Society, moderate and severe haemophiliacs spend more than Rs.50,000 to Rs.1 lakh per year.
But for more than six months around 100 haemophiliacs who have been under severe economic constraints due to expenses, have breathed easy thanks to free factors provided.
Besides an outpatient clinic that sees around 6 to 10 patients for general check-ups every Wednesday according to G.Anitha, associate professor, Department of Medicine, a bed has been earmarked exclusively at the Intensive Medical Care Unit (ICMU) to expedite treatment to haemophiliacs. “We have ensured that haemophiliacs can be infused with factors immediately and walk out in less than an hour,” says Ashok Kumar, head, department of medicine.
The treatment here is quite prompt that Rajeshwari brings her 15-year-old son Hariharan from Karaikudi. “Factor first, evaluate next is the mode of treatment for haemophilia,” says neurologist and treasure of the Tiruchi Chapter, Dr.R.Sundararajan. “A haemophilia patient must be given the factor before any diagnostic test like a scan is done. It is imperative that a haemophilia patient gets factor as early as possible to arrest bleeding that may occur any time.”
Refrigerator for stocking factors
The Haemophilia Society has donated a refrigerator that has been placed near the bed in the ICMU for stocking factors, ensuring no time is wasted in bringing the procurement of factors to the bedside. With the disorder being uncommon, not many doctors or medical students are aware of management of the disorder. A small booklet detailing how to calculate dosage, treating individual bleeds has been distributed to all physicians and patients as ready reckoner during an emergency.
Medical and surgical intervention for haemophilia has been included under the Chief Ministers' Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme for poor patients.
