In exemplary act, Kerala gives free medicine to all patients suffering from SMA under age of 12

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Health Minister Veena George said that all the children below 12 years of age who applied for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) medicine have been given free medicine through a special scheme of the state government.

"They will be given follow-up treatment and free medicines for the next stages. The drug, which was previously only given to children up to six years of age, was recently extended up to 12 years of age. Medicine was administered to 23 children above six years of age. Including this, a total of 80 children up to 12 years of age were given free medicines worth Rs 6 lakh per dose," she said.

"Medicines worth Rs 20 lakh per month were also distributed free of cost to children suffering from lysosomal storage diseases. Apart from this, medicines are being given to those suffering from other rare diseases with a treatment cost of Rs 50 lakhs through SAT Hospital which is a centre of excellence for rare diseases," Veena George said.

"This government has taken a decisive step in the treatment of rare diseases. For the first time in India, a state has started providing free drugs for rare diseases at the government level. The state had implemented the CARE scheme to ensure comprehensive care for rare diseases. The aim is to expand the treatment plan by finding financial support through crowdfunding. And for the first time in the country, the hub and spoke model was implemented in the treatment of rare diseases".

"First SMA clinic started at Thiruvananthapuram SAT Hospital for treatment of rare diseases. An innovative surgery to correct spinal curvature in children with SMA has been successfully started in the government sector for the first time at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital. Five surgeries have been done so far."

"In private hospitals, surgeries costing around Rs 15 lakh are being done free of cost in medical colleges. Genetics department started in SAT Hospital. The SAT Hospital, which is a centre of excellence in rare diseases, provides the services of expert doctors in various departments such as pediatric neurology, genetic disease department, respiratory disease department, orthopedic department, physical medicine department etc. under one roof for those suffering from rare diseases," she added.