Irregular supply of medicines for treating haemophilia in government hospitals is making it difficult for patients, said Vikash Goyal, Vice-President (Development), Haemophilia Federation (India).
He was speaking on the sidelines of an awareness camp conducted for haemophilic patients here on Sunday. Stating that more than 80 per cent of the patients diagnosed with haemophilia belong to poor families, Mr. Goyal said that there was a need for the government to ensure that the procurement of medicines to treat haemophilia was regular.
“Patients need to take medicines every time they bleed. On an average, one patient spends more than Rs. 1.5 lakh per annum on treatment. Therefore, we urge the government to provide medicines to people irrespective of their economic backgrounds,” he added.
Karnataka was the first to provide haemophilia medicine to below poverty line patients free.
Cecil Ross, professor of medicine and head, haematology unit at St. John’s Hospital, Bangalore, said, “There should be a dedicated ward for the treatment of haemophilia in all government hospitals so that patients receive free treatment and are given medicines regularly to cope with such disorders.”
According to statistics made available by the Haemophilia Federation, there are 2,000 registered patients in the State suffering from haemophilia.
The federation is, to observe World Haemophilia Day on April 17, conducting the camp to raise awareness about the diagnosis, the available treatment methods and the forms of rehabilitation for patients suffering from haemophilia.
