Ahmedabad: Gujarat continues to shoulder a significant burden of inherited blood disorders, particularly sickle cell disease and thalassemia, highlighting the urgent need for early diagnosis and improved access to curative therapies.

According to data tabled by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in the Lok Sabha, more than 77.34 lakh individuals in Gujarat had been screened for sickle cell disease up to July 28, 2025. Of these, 28,178 were confirmed to be affected by the disease.

At the national level, over 33.44 lakh individuals were screened for thalassemia until February 9, 2026. The screening identified 11,274 cases of thalassemia major and 94,542 carriers of the disorder.

While the parliamentary data outlines national figures for thalassemia, Gujarat has historically reported a considerable burden of the condition, particularly among certain communities. This adds to the state’s broader challenge of managing genetic haemoglobin disorders.

For thousands of families, managing these conditions involves lifelong blood transfusions, iron chelation therapy, frequent hospital visits, and continuous monitoring. The long-term treatment not only affects patients’ quality of life but also places sustained medical and financial strain on households.

Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT), also known as haematopoietic stem cell transplant, remains the only established curative treatment for thalassemia major and selected severe forms of sickle cell disease. Beyond inherited haemoglobin disorders, BMT is also considered the standard curative therapy for several serious blood-related conditions, including acute and chronic leukemias, lymphomas, and bone marrow failure syndromes that do not respond adequately to conventional treatment.

The procedure involves replacing defective or diseased bone marrow with healthy stem cells capable of producing normal blood cells. Advances in donor matching, conditioning regimens, infection control, and supportive care have significantly improved survival outcomes over the past decade, particularly when patients are referred early in the course of the disease.

“Bone Marrow Transplant has transformed the outlook for patients with serious blood disorders. For many children and young adults with thalassemia major, severe sickle cell disease, leukemias, or bone marrow failure syndromes, transplant offers the possibility of long-term disease control or cure. With early referral and appropriate donor selection, survival outcomes today are far better than what we saw a decade ago,” said Lt Gen Dr Velu Nair (Retd), Haemato-Oncologist at Apollo Hospitals, Ahmedabad.

He added that in recent years, cellular therapies such as CAR-T cell therapy (Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell therapy) have emerged as a significant advancement in the treatment of certain relapsed or refractory leukemias and lymphomas.

“CAR-T therapy represents a major step forward in precision immunotherapy, particularly for patients who have exhausted conventional treatment options. While not a replacement for transplant in all cases, it has shown excellent response rates in selected patients,” he said.

Medical experts emphasise that early diagnosis through screening programmes, genetic counselling for at-risk families, and timely transplant evaluation are crucial to improving outcomes. With Gujarat facing a measurable burden of both inherited and acquired blood disorders, experts stress that expanding awareness about curative options such as Bone Marrow Transplant is critical to reducing lifelong dependence on transfusions and prolonged medical management.