KANNUR: Health Minister Veena George's assurance that hemophiliacs will be delivered factor medicines at their homes to control bleeding, has not yet been fulfilled. Two lives were lost recently in Kannur and Kozhikode districts due to a lack of proper treatment, because of this.

The minister informed on the 2nd of last month that the medicine will be made available. The minister had informed that two-dose factor medicines will be delivered to homes, but the medicines were available only in some areas. In many other areas, patients are facing difficulties due to a lack of medicine.

If the bleeding is not controlled at the initial stage, the patient's life may be in danger. Without the immediate availability of drugs and expert hematology treatment, premature deaths of hemophilia patients are of grave concern. Relatives of the patients say that the incident of death of children due to bleeding, even with the state having facilities for prophylaxis treatment till the age of 18, should be taken seriously.

Prophylaxis treatment

Hemophilia is a genetic disorder in which the blood does not clot when wounded, due to a lack of factor-8 and factor-9 in the blood. Prophylaxis is the continuous administration of Factor-8 over a period of time. This will control internal bleeding and prevent future complications.

'A complaint has been submitted to Ministers 'karuthalum kaithangum' Adalat, seeking immediate action to deliver factor medicines to the homes of hemophilia patients.'

Kareem Karassery, State General Convener

Blood Patients Protection Council