In a significant move to strengthen public health, every resident of Jharkhand will be screened for thalassemia and sickle cell disease. Announcing the plan, Health Minister Dr Irfan Ansari said on Sunday that the absence of reliable data on these conditions has long posed a major challenge for the state’s healthcare system.
“There is currently no district-wise information on the number of thalassemia and sickle cell patients. This is a very serious illness, and we are committed to ensuring treatment within Jharkhand at any cost,” Ansari said.
The Health Minister also stated that the government will fully cover the treatment expenses for affected patients. Efforts are underway to establish bone marrow transplant facilities at Ranchi Sadar Hospital, which will provide critical care within the state for the first time.
Ansari further announced plans to bring experienced medical specialists from across the country to Jharkhand, with the government allocating the necessary financial support for these initiatives. Highlighting the urgent need for accurate health data, he noted that many children are repeatedly visiting private hospitals and government blood banks due to inadequate testing facilities.
To address these issues, all district blood banks are being upgraded with advanced equipment, including next-generation blood testing machines, modern AIDS/HIV screening systems, and improved blood safety technology. These upgrades aim to prevent any recurrence of incidents like the one reported recently in Chaibasa.
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In October, five children reportedly contracted HIV at West Singhbhum’s Sadar Hospital after receiving contaminated blood—a case that sparked statewide outrage. Following public outcry, Chief Minister Hemant Soren suspended the civil surgeon and the medical officer responsible. The matter escalated after a child’s family submitted a complaint to the deputy commissioner and state authorities.
Taking suo motu cognisance of media reports, the Jharkhand High Court ordered an immediate investigation and sought a detailed report from the Health Department. A high-level medical team from Ranchi inspected the Chaibasa blood bank and discovered four additional children who had tested HIV positive after blood transfusions. The team examined the blood bank, PICU ward, and spoke to the affected families.
Initial findings revealed serious lapses, including inadequate testing protocols, lack of oversight, and procedural failures that allowed infected blood to be transfused—putting multiple young lives at risk.
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