Thalassemia Patients Urge Standardized Tests to Curb Infection Risks

Swift Summary:

• The Thalassemia Patients Advocacy Group (TPAG), along with legal and health experts, held a discussion at India International Center in Delhi on July 17, 2025, advocating for stronger blood safety practices across India.
• Key recommendations from TPAG include mandatory Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT) for blood donations nationwide, standardised transfusion practices, a national-level blood donation campaign involving influencers, and mandatory thalassemia screening for pregnant women.
• Novel therapies such as gene therapy were suggested to reduce dependence on blood transfusion.
• A 23-year-old thalassemia patient from Kolkata shared her personal experience of potentially contracting HIV due to inadequate screening during transfusions.
• BJP spokesperson Tuhin A.Sinha expressed support and emphasized the need for advocacy around NAT testing implementation. He also proposed incentivizing blood donations to improve systems of checks and balances.
• Legal expert P.C. sen highlighted the constitutional responsibility to provide pathogen-free blood; ICMR’s ex-director Professor N.K. ganguly proposed focusing on other related disorders like sickle cell anaemia.

Indian Opinion analysis:
The call by TPAG highlights systemic challenges in ensuring safer blood transfusions across India-an issue critical for patients dependent on frequent transfusions like those with thalassemia or other chronic conditions. The lack of mandatory implementation of NAT testing underscores gaps in equity between regions where advanced safety measures are available versus those lacking it entirely.

The discussion reflects broader implications extending beyond patients with thalassemia alone; prioritizing standardized protocols could enhance public trust in India’s healthcare infrastructure while safeguarding lives against preventable infections. Advocacy efforts combined with government action may accelerate reforms but would require significant political will and resource allocation given India’s vast population base.

Moreover, suggestions regarding incentivized donations and greater public awareness thru campaigns could increase availability while promoting accountability within the ecosystem-a vital step for progress towards global access without compromising quality standards.

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