No end in sight to plight of thalassemia patients in Kozhikode
Patients are forced to buy leukocyte filter sets paying around ₹1,200 per piece from a private company in Ernakulam, say public health activists
The struggle of thalassemia patients in Kozhikode continues unabated, as the free distribution of crucial medical devices remains suspended for over two years. Thalassemia, an inherited blood disorder, hampers the body's ability to produce haemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells responsible for oxygen transport. The leukocyte filter sets, vital in preventing adverse reactions during blood transfusions, have been absent from the Government Medical College Hospital.
This leaves patients in government hospitals in nearby districts, and even at the Government Medical College Hospital in Wayanad, to purchase these sets at around ₹1,200 each from a private firm in Ernakulam. The scarcity of the devices forces poor patients to forego the much-needed blood transfusions. The Blood Patients Protection Council, Kerala, claims that the Kerala Medical Services Corporation issued tenders for the purchase of these filter sets and iron chelation drugs, but only the filter set suppliers participated in the process.
The corporation's next move in the procurement process remains uncertain. The Kerala State Human Rights Commission has requested a report from the Director of Health Services on the matter, but progress seems sluggish. Mr. Karassery from the council urges the Health department to expedite the tender process and procure the necessary equipment to alleviate the patients' plight.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
