Telangana aims to eradicate thalassemia, save families from medical poverty: Health Minister Raja Narasimha

Hyderabad: Telangana aims to be the first ‘thalassemia-free state’ in India by 2035, announced Telangana health minister Damodar Raja Narasimha.

Speaking at the Asian Thalassemia Conclave 2026 held at Kamala Hospital, the Minister called for a ‘collective social movement’ to eradicate the genetic blood disorder.

New care centres and pensions

The Minister unveiled a series of infrastructure and welfare measures designed to ease the burden on affected families:

1. New Day Care Centres: Three new facilities will be established in Asifabad, Mancherial and Karimnagar, adding to the existing network in Adilabad, Nizamabad, Warangal and Khammam.

2. Assured Pensions: In a move to provide financial dignity, the government has promised immediate steps to enrol all thalassemia and sickle cell patients into a state-sponsored pension scheme.

3. Advanced Treatment: Free Bone Marrow Transplants (BMT)—the only permanent cure for Thalassemia—are now being performed at NIMS Hospital under the state’s healthcare initiatives.

The growing challenge in Telangana

While the state is making strides in treatment, the scale of the challenge remains significant. According to the Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Society (TSCS), there are approximately 6,000 estimated Thalassemia patients across Telangana.

The TSCS head office in Hyderabad alone supports more than 3,600 registered children, providing daily life-saving blood transfusions and diagnostic services. High prevalence rates have been specifically noted in districts like Mahabubnagar, Adilabad and Khammam, often driven by a lack of awareness and a high rate of consanguineous (related-blood) marriages.

‘Prevention is the only cure’

Minister Narasimha emphasised that while the government will provide Rs 10 lakh in cashless treatment through the Aarogyasri scheme, medical intervention alone is not enough.

“These disorders are severe, lifelong challenges that impact entire families,” the Minister stated. “The most effective path forward is prevention through pre-marital screening, genetic counselling and widespread social awareness.”

To date, over 11 lakh individuals in the state have been screened for Sickle Cell Disease.

The government aims to integrate ‘Thalassemia-Free Telangana’ into its broader Health Vision 2047, ensuring that no child is born with a preventable genetic disorder and no family is pushed into poverty by medical expenses.