Thalassemia patients are yet to be covered under the social security net of the Kerala government even though people affected by blood cell-related disorders such as sickle cell anaemia and haemophilia have been reportedly getting financial help under its ‘Samashwasam’ scheme.
Thalassemia is an inherited disorder caused by the lack of enough production of haemoglobin, an important protein in the blood cells, in human body. Haemophilia is another disorder in which the blood does not clot because the body does not have enough clotting proteins. The blood cells, which carry oxygen, of sickle cell anaemia patients will be sickle shaped, affecting the flow of blood to different parts of the body.
According to functionaries of the Kerala Blood Patients Protection Council, haemophilia patients get ₹1,000 a month while sickle cell anaemia patients get ₹2,000. They claimed that Minister for Higher Education and Social Justice R. Bindu had promised during a meeting in the State capital on March 21 that similar financial help could be given to thalassemia patients too. But the promise was not kept.
