Sindh Health Department will establish Treatment Centres for Hemophiliacs at selected government hospitals, said provincial health secretary, Syed Hashim Raza. In response to presentations made by health experts at a seminar organised by Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority here on Thursday, he assured that designated facilities would have mandatory provision for blood factor eight and nine respectively.
"These essentially needed coagulation component would preferably be provided free of cost, under the category of essential drugs, to the hemophiliacs," said the Secretary for Health. Syed Hashim Raza also assured that the facility may gradually be provided at all district hospitals. He asked the concerned professionals to submit him a detailed plan so that the provincial government may establish the first public sector treatment centre for hemophiliacs in the country.
Sindh Secretary for Health also suggested voluntary pre-marital screening of couples so as to avoid blood related genetic disorders. A law, he said has been approved with specific reference to thalassemia and this can always be further broadened. Dr Zahid Hussain, Manager, Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority said international prevalence of Factor Eight Hemophiliacs is estimated to be one out of every 10,000 and Factor Nine comes to one in every 50,000.
"In Pakistan the number of registered hemophiliacs Factor Eight or Factor A is 10,000 and that of Factor Nine is 2000," he said. In Sindh, Dr Zahid said the total number of hemophiliacs is registered to be 2500. A significant majority of the patients are believed not enumerated due to lack of knowledge and reluctance among their parents or themselves to approach major hospitals.
Dr Sarfaraz Jaffery of Hussaini Blood Bank and Transfusion Services said the patients of hemophilia besides being easy victims of intensive loss, due to missing coagulant factor, also frequently report with joint pains and other bone conditions. "Establishment of Hemophilia Centres at Government Hospitals with already existent facilities for physiotherapy and orthopaedics can be a great help for the hemophiliacs," he said.
Dr Tahir Shamsi of National Institute of Blood Diseases said hemophilia is a male specific disease and is reported among boys born to hemophilia carrier mothers. Mothers do not transfer the deficiency to their daughters, however, girls born to them hold high chance to be hemophilia carriers, he said.
The senior haematologist said hemophiliacs may not necessarily have kids suffering from the same disease. However, prevention is extremely important under every condition as the ailment is extremely painful. Dr Tahir Shamsi also recommended budget allocation, at district levels, for procurement of Factor Eight and Factor Nine, for the patients visiting the district level health care facilities.
"These must be treated as live saving drugs that are expensive, costing Rs 4,500 to Rs 9,000 respectively, and are beyond the reach of large majority of the patients," he said. Speakers on the occasion including Dr Rehan Sajid called for transparency in the proposed scheme so that people actually in need may avail the assistance.