Agartala, Oct 11 : Tripura has introduced Emicizumab prophylaxis treatment for patients suffering from Haemophilia A, with the state government set to provide the advanced therapy free of cost, Chief Minister Manik Saha said on Sunday.
Saha inaugurated the new treatment facility at the Nursing College auditorium in the Agartala Government Medical College (AGMC) and Indira Gandhi Memorial (IGM) Hospital complex here.
The chief minister symbolically administered an Emicizumab injection to a patient, formally launching the service. Recalling his earlier career as a medical practitioner, Saha said administering an injection after a long time brought back memories of his professional days.
He said the initiative would reduce treatment-related hardships, minimise the need for frequent injections and improve patients’ quality of life.
Recalling the difficulties faced by haemophilia patients, Saha said procuring Factor VIII from outside the state and maintaining it at the required temperature had caused considerable inconvenience to patients and their families.
Having been associated with the Haemophilia Society for a long time, he said he had witnessed these challenges closely. The introduction of Emicizumab would make treatment more convenient, with doses administered at prescribed intervals under medical supervision, he added.
Haemophilia is an inherited bleeding disorder in which blood does not clot properly. Haemophilia A results from a deficiency of clotting Factor VIII, while Haemophilia B is caused by a deficiency of Factor IX.
According to Saha, Tripura has 97 registered patients with Haemophilia A and 13 with Haemophilia B, though the actual number could be higher. The state government spends around Rs 5 crore to Rs 6 crore annually on haemophilia treatment.
IGM Hospital has been designated as the nodal centre for the new service. The government is also planning to extend treatment facilities to district hospitals, depending on local requirements, to reduce the need for patients to travel long distances for medical care.
Highlighting broader healthcare initiatives, Saha said the government was strengthening medical infrastructure, expanding specialist services and prioritising disease prevention, immunisation and public health awareness.
He said Tripura achieved 100 per cent of its target under the measles-rubella vaccination programme conducted from August 10 to 25. Health examinations had also been conducted for nearly 90,000 students from 125 schools under the Vidyajyoti scheme.
The government was also working to expand super-speciality services at GBP Hospital and Medical College, establish additional medical colleges and strengthen de-addiction and rehabilitation facilities, he said.
Health Secretary Kiran Gitte, Director of Health Services Debashree Debbarma and IGM Hospital Superintendent Nirmal Sarkar were among those present.
