KARACHI: No govt hospital offers treatment for blood diseases
KARACHI, Nov 11: Public sector hospitals across the country are yet to have a haematology department that could ensure proper treatment of a wide range of blood diseases — very common among the local children.
Children, especially those from lower class, suffering from thalassaemia — the commonest genetic disorder in the country —, leukaemia or haemophilia, are simply hapless as no medical intervention is possible due to non-availability of required treatment facilities at any public sector health care institution.
Dr Mohammad Irfan, a haematologist and transplant physician at the Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre told APP that lack of resources might have been the main reason that had prevented the state to initiate an elaborate project.
He was of the view that only one full fledged, well equipped and properly staffed department at least one hospital in each of the provincial capitals was enough to cater to the needs of a good number of patients in the country.
“These (departments) may operate as ‘Centres of Excellence’ for the people to avail quality service at an affordable cost,” he remarked.
He referred to a lot of haematology units operating in private sector hospitals and clinics in the country and said that the cost of treatment was generally beyond the reach of even the meddle class.
About prevention of such disease, Dr Irfan stressed the need for proper public awareness on varied blood diseases through electronic and print media. He said people should be guided on preventive measures.
Discussing the blood diseases commonly observed among locals, Dr Irfan particularly mentioned the iron deficiency disorders which, despite being easily treatable, continue to affect severely a large number of women and children.
He disclosed that 80 to 90 per cent of children in the country suffer from iron deficiency and every fourth woman is exposed to the disorders. This condition casts a negative impact on the physical and mental health status of the patient, he said.
The deficiency, he said, particularly affects the cognitive functioning of relevant children manifested through inability to concentrate and lack of intelligence. The condition is generally reflected through weakness, tiredness, nausea.
“The economic cost of the condition is tremendous as has its impact on the performance of workers as well as students,” the haematologist elaborated.
He mentioned that proper and cost-effective medication under the supervision of qualified health care physician can help patients rebuild iron stores in a period of four-six months.
Dr Irfan emphasized on an adequate strategy particularly required for thalassaemia control as more than 6,000 children with thalassaemia major are born in the country every year. These children are generally susceptible to other serious diseases.
He said that thalassaemia is not merely a matter related to health but is a socio-economic issue as every third family in the country is registered to have at least one thalassaemia minor carrier. These, otherwise absolutely healthy individuals, if left undiagnosed emerge as silent contributor to the increasing number of thalassaemia major.
Dr Irfan reminded that a marriage between two carriers of thalassaemia minor may, in 25 per cent of instances, results in the birth of a thalassaemia major and in 50 per cent cases, a thalassaemia minor.
Haemophilia is said to be another prominent congenital disorder which is poorly treated due to the inadequate awareness as well as lack of proper facilities. The ailment is transmitted through father, although mothers are very often held responsible and ultimately abandoned by their husbands.
The ailment severely cripples life of a patient with dire impact on quality of existence of any haemophiliac patient.
Leukaemia, currently being quite commonly diagnosed due to presence of experts, again could not be properly addressed due to the dearth of required facilities.
Dr Irfan, besides advocating an improved treatment facility, recommended certain modifications in the current graduate and post-graduate medical curriculum with more stress on blood related diseases.
“The component being an important source of life needs to be adequately understood by health care providers belonging to varied specialities,” the haematologist said adding that be it a haematologist, oncologist or paediatrician, all should be well informed about the domain of blood transfusion.—APP
