Blood & balm: ‘Free factors’ for haemophiliacs from Apr 1

BHOPAL: Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Centre (BMHRC) announced registry and identification and treatment of cases of haemophilia cases in the state on World Haemophilia Day on Friday.
With a comprehensive registry of haemophiliacs, Madhya Pradesh health department has also announced ‘free factors’ for the patients. “There is a need of notification and treatment of this genetic disorder in a systematic manner.We are focusing on need to develop trained manpower and treatment facilities along with sensitization of public,” said principal sectary, health Pravir Krishn. Under free drug scheme, free factors concentrates would be available in all district hospitals from April 1. Estimated cost of factors can go as high as Rs 1 lakh per month, for serious patients. Haemophilia A is a genetic deficiency in clotting factor VIII, which causes increased bleeding and usually affects males.
BMHRC director Dr Manoj Pandey announced institute’s commitment to blood disease patient registry. “BMHRC is the only centre in Madhya Pradesh with a department of transfusion medicine. We have undertaken the task to identify haemophiliacs, register and counsel them.”
He described there may be under reporting of cases and complications of treating haemophilia are many and it has a serious disability. BMHRC department of Transfusion Medicine HoD Dr Manisha Shrivastava informed that cryoprecipitate a component of blood and factor VIII and IX are available for treatment of haemophilia. A poster competition was held for students and staff of BMHRC and an awareness programme on haemophilia was also organized on the occasion.