Medanta and Coal India collaborate to make Thalassemia treatment affordable for children

New Delhi: Medanta has entered a partnership with Coal India Ltd. to enhance access to life-saving treatment for children suffering from thalassemia, the most common blood disorder in India. 

This collaboration, initiated under Coal India’s ‘Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojana’, aims to establish a comprehensive financial support framework to facilitate stem cell transplants for those in need.

As part of this initiative, Coal India will provide an initial advance of ₹50 lakh to Medanta, setting the stage for the program. The partnership will enable financial support of up to ₹10 lakh per patient for stem cell transplants, significantly alleviating the financial strain on families seeking this critical treatment. Furthermore, Coal India has pledged an additional ₹2 crore to enhance treatment efforts if Medanta successfully treats an average of more than 10 children annually under this program.

Dr. Naresh Trehan, Chairman and Managing Director of Medanta, expressed, “Medanta Gurugram, renowned for its comprehensive care and top-tier treatment facilities for thalassemia, has been recognized by Coal India for its vital role in providing life-saving interventions. This partnership embodies our shared commitment to making critical medical treatments accessible to those in need. We are proud to contribute to this meaningful initiative, offering young thalassaemic children a new chance at life.”

Thalassemia is a significant health concern in India, often referred to as the “Thalassemia capital of the world,” with one in eight individuals affected by the condition. The country has the highest number of children diagnosed with thalassemia major, estimated between 100,000 to 150,000. Each year, approximately 10,000 to 15,000 infants are born with thalassemia major. The disease severely impacts quality of life, leading to anemia, bone pain, organ damage, skeletal deformities, and growth issues. 

While a stem cell transplant or bone marrow transplant (BMT) is the only known cure, the high costs associated with these procedures often hinder access to optimal care. The Medanta-Coal India partnership provides hope and assistance to families grappling with the challenges of thalassemia, making essential treatments more accessible to those who need them most.