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Thalassemia in India

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SalD:

Hello Peoples!

One thing that you're not considering is the cost of implementing screening programs.  I know that testing is cheaper than treating, but health economics is a funny thing.  As far as I understand people cover the cost of their own treatment in India?  Is this true?  If so, the government doesn't have an economic driver to introduce screening - at least not government funded screening. 

But Shikha is right, putting thal on the government's agenda is one of the most important things you can do - and it might provide a great opportunity for awareness raising (especially if you get them tested and one of them is a carrier!).  I am at the 11th International Congress of Human Genetics at the moment, and there are a few people from India talking about thalassaemia.  One of them is Prof. Mammen Chandy who conducts BMTs in Vellore, and he put up a picture of a famous actor (whose name I have forgotten) and said he is a thal minor - HE might be able to help raise awareness in India??! :idea

Cheerio!
SalD

Shikha Mitra:
 I think , if i am not mistaken , Mr. Amitabh Bacchan is a thal minor!!!
And once upon a time, Mr. Sunil Dutt was present at the Mumbai thal conf.

shikha

Andy Battaglia:
We have touched on this subject of adding spice to bring attention to thalassemia before... It is already being done with mention of thalassemia in movies and also fund raising by stars there.


--- Quote from: Shikha Mitra on April 08, 2006, 03:49:11 AM ---

In Kolkata, the Thal Association is working very very hard and for their fund raisings they have roped in famous personalities like film star Mithun Chakraborty and cricketer Surav Ganguly.Now Mithun Chakraborty is a big donor to the Thal Association of Kolkata.
Shikha Mitra

--- End quote ---


Yes, testing does cost money, and of course we have considered that,  but the cost of care for thals is far more. The Indian government may mostly ignore thal on a national level, but as has been pointed out, some local governments are involved along with social organizations, in encouraging testing for the thal gene. The point of the statistics is to show that this is a problem that is too huge to ignore and that it is increasing at such an alarming rate, that it will not be possible for the government to perpetually ignore it. As the Indian economy continues its rapid expansion, health care will become more of an issue and the government and social institutions will become more involved. Do you really think that the government will continue to ignore thal as so many thousands continue to die from it each year? The economic driver will be the economy itself, as the growing class of those that have, demand better services, just as has been the case in the western nations. When I was a child, health insurance was rare in the US, but now well over 80% of the US population is covered. As health care issues become more a factor in Indian life, screening programs will be seen as the most cost effective way of dealing with thal.

The world wide thalassemia problem will only become worse in the coming years as emigration brings it to areas that have previously not seen it. The "boom" of cases in California demonstrates this and  certainly the call for screening will get louder. As Shikha pointed out, all it takes is one bill in a legislative body to bring attention to this. Expect to see thal screening at birth to become more common around the world as goverments mandate it be included in the screening already done at birth for many conditions. With 7% of the world population carrying the thal gene, this is a problem that won't go away and won't be ignored. Screening will happen as the alternative will result in health care costs that no goverment will want to deal with.

Narendra:

--- Quote ---Mr. Amitabh Bacchan is a thal minor
--- End quote ---

I just read today that Amisha Patel(another film star in Indian movies) has Thal(minor) From:- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/664928.cms

And we already know - Pete Sampras is a Thalassemia(Minor)

-Narendra

namitha:
Hi,

The Big B is also a thal minor. I keep thinking that it is a good idea to get some of this celebs to endorse a few public service messages on TV. Think about it. Is it a good idea?

Regards,
Namitha

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