Ahmedabad Civil Hospital leads Gujarat's push for Thalassaemia-free state on World Thalassaemia Day
Synopsis
On World Thalassaemia Day, Ahmedabad Civil Hospital revealed that 81 children currently receive regular transfusions at the facility, while 5,000 healthcare workers are set to be screened under a new initiative — part of Gujarat's broader institutional push to become thalassaemia-free under Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel's government.
Key Takeaways
Ahmedabad Civil Hospital marked World Thalassaemia Day on 8 May 2025 by outlining its integrated care approach for thalassaemia patients.
Around 81 children currently receive blood transfusions every Tuesday and Thursday at the hospital.
The hospital offers advanced services including leukodepleted blood transfusion , chelation therapy , and HPLC-based diagnostic testing.
Free medicines Deferasirox and Deferiprone are provided to manage iron overload from repeated transfusions.
Around 5,000 healthcare workers will be screened under a new early-detection initiative.
State Health Minister Praful Pansheriya reaffirmed the government's commitment to a Thalassaemia-free Gujarat .
Ahmedabad Civil Hospital on 8 May 2025 outlined its integrated approach to combating thalassaemia — combining prevention, diagnosis, and long-term care — as Gujarat marked World Thalassaemia Day with a renewed push toward a thalassaemia-free state. The hospital's efforts align with this year's global theme,
Point of View
HPLC diagnostics, leukodepleted transfusions, and bone marrow transplant counselling at a single public facility. But the real measure of a 'Thalassaemia-free Gujarat' ambition will be penetration beyond Ahmedabad's Civil Hospital into tier-2 and tier-3 districts, where carrier screening before marriage remains rare. Screening 5,000 healthcare workers is a meaningful step, but the harder challenge is reaching rural communities where awareness of genetic counselling is low and stigma around carrier status remains a barrier to premarital testing.
NationPress
10 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is thalassaemia and why does it require regular treatment?
Thalassaemia is a hereditary blood disorder in which the body cannot produce sufficient haemoglobin, making regular blood transfusions necessary for survival. It is a genetic condition passed through generations and is not contagious.
What treatment services does Ahmedabad Civil Hospital offer for thalassaemia patients?
The hospital provides free and comprehensive care including leukodepleted blood transfusions, chelation therapy, HPLC-based diagnosis, 2D echocardiography, and free medicines such as Deferasirox and Deferiprone. Bone marrow transplant counselling is also available as a curative option.
How many thalassaemia patients are currently being treated at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital?
Around 81 children currently receive blood transfusion services every Tuesday and Thursday at the hospital, according to Jolly Vaishnav, Head of the Paediatric Department.
What is Gujarat's plan to prevent thalassaemia in the future?
Gujarat's prevention strategy includes thalassaemia testing before marriage, carrier screening through HPLC, antenatal screening during pregnancy, and family screening. A special initiative to screen around 5,000 healthcare workers has also been announced to strengthen community-level early detection.
What is the global theme for World Thalassaemia Day 2025?
The global theme for World Thalassaemia Day 2025 is 'Hidden No More: Finding the Undiagnosed. Supporting the Unseen', which focuses on early detection and ensuring timely medical support for all thalassaemia patients.
