Pre-budget expectations from Dr. Chandrakant Agarwal, President of the Thalassemia & Sickle Cell Society

Hyderabad: “We are immensely thankful to Govt of India & especially Hon’ble Finance Minister for great work done for Sickle Cell disease  in the previous budgets, wherein allocations have been made for its eradication by 2047,  but unfortunately, the bigger evil the most lethal and dreaded disease “Thalassemia”, which is also a genetic blood disorder like sickle cell anemia fails to find any mention in the previous budgets, which is a very grave blunder, which needs to be rectified with immediate effect in the coming budget.

Both, Sickle Cell Anemia and Thalassemia are same type of disease with a little difference, thalassemia is much more severe and the methodology for eradicating them are the same and in both cases, patients survive by periodic  blood transfusion for a life time, which is horror in itself and both of them can be eradicated and nations have eradicated them, by simple HbA2 blood test, which needs to be made mandatory by the Government. Sickle Cell Anemia and Thalassemia are two sides of same coin, both of them are to be taken together for eradication efforts, kindly rectify the error.”

“We are very much positive towards the upcoming Budget as the govt has been considerate with its allocations for conditions such as sickle cell anaemia and unfortunately thalassemia has been left out in the previous budgets. The most noteworthy one was the allocation of significant budget towards tackling  sicklecell anemia, aiming to eliminate it by 2047, with a focus on universal screening, counseling, and comprehensive management programs.

However there is a greater need for Budget 2025-26 to broaden its scope. As we approach the upcoming Union Budget 2025-2026, Thalassemia & Sickle Cell Society urges Hon’ble Finance Minister Smt Nirmala Sitaraman, Finance  – Govt of India to prioritize advancements in medical diagnostics, particularly for genetic blood disorders such as thalassemia and sickle cell.

We expect targeted investments in affordable, accessible diagnostic services, as well as enhanced funding for research and healthcare infrastructure. The need for early detection, specialized care, and patient-centered solutions has never been more pressing. We hope the budget reflects a commitment to improving healthcare outcomes and quality of life for individuals affected by these conditions at large.