A distressing situation is unfolding in Kerala, where individuals suffering from Thalassemia are allegedly being compelled to leave the state to access crucial medical care. This exodus is attributed to a year-long, severe shortage of leukocyte filter sets and iron chelation drugs in government medical college hospitals. The Kerala Blood Patients’ Protection Council has brought these alarming claims to light.
According to Kareem Karassery, the council’s president, patients who previously received treatment at the Government Medical College Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram, as well as those from Kannur and Kasaragod districts, are now traveling to Tamil Nadu and Mangaluru in Karnataka, respectively, in search of these essential supplies.
Thalassemia is a genetic blood disorder characterized by the body’s insufficient production of hemoglobin, the protein responsible for oxygen transport in red blood cells. Effective management of the condition typically involves regular blood transfusions and iron chelation therapy. Leukocyte filter sets are vital for preventing adverse reactions during blood transfusions, while iron chelation therapy is crucial for managing iron overload that can result from frequent transfusions.
Karassery further notes that certain hospitals in Chennai are consistently providing leukocyte filter sets and iron chelation drugs, a direct result of directives from Chief Minister M.K. Stalin. Similarly, some medical facilities in Mangaluru are offering these treatments free of charge. He expressed frustration that despite the council’s memorandums to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Health Minister Veena George, their pleas have seemingly been ignored.