President Dr Mohamed Muizzu approved his Cabinet's recommendation to facilitate free bone marrow transplants and strengthen and expand services for Thalassaemia patients following deliberations on a paper submitted by the Ministry of Health to the Cabinet today.
Strengthening healthcare services offered to thalassaemia patients and facilitating government sponsorship for bone marrow transplants of eligible thalassaemia patients is a key component of the Administration's 'Hafuthaa 14' roadmap. After thoroughly reviewing the proposal submitted by the Ministry of Health, the Cabinet resolved that the State Trading Organization (STO) should ensure the availability of essential medicines and consumables for thalassaemia patients and facilitate Aasandha Scheme coverage.
The Cabinet approved a short-term expedited assessment process for finalising Thalassaemia patients requiring bone marrow transplants as part of a strategic initiative to establish a sustainable framework for government-sponsored transplants. Each year, a set number of eligible Thalassaemia patients would be sponsored for overseas transplant procedures to support ten patients annually by 2028.
Upon his Cabinet's approval, the President decided to establish a specialised hospital exclusively for treating Thalassaemia patients. Furthermore, the Cabinet resolved to incorporate additional facilities within this hospital. Notably, these facilities would include 'T2*' testing services, a critical diagnostic tool patients previously had to seek from private hospitals.
Considering the peripheral issues related to the increase of Thalassaemia patients, President Dr Muizzu also decided to include DNA testing under the approved list of treatments covered under the Assandha Scheme. DNA testing is a carrier screening process used to identify Thalassaemia inheritance.
The Cabinet also approved implementing Thalassaemia awareness programmes, enhancing testing and screening of Thalassaemia in the Maldives.
