Nearly 70,Bhaskar commutes twice a month between Shimla and Karsog,about 100 km,for blood transfusion of his two Thalassemic grandsons. But on World Thalassemia Day,May 8,he has nothing much to look forward to. Instead,he was shocked to hear that despite announcement and direction of Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal on December 11,the states premier hospital Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMCH) has denied provision for a dedicated treatment facility due to shortage of space. I am surprised to hear the hospital has no space to set up a separate four bed thalassemia ward. All medical colleges and prestigious government hospitals across the country have arranged for special dedicated ward for thalassemia patients and we too had made the same demand, says Ajai Srivastava,president of Umang Foundation working for Thalassemia patients. Reacting to the Health departments failure,Principal Secretary Health P C Dhiman said,When the CM has announced something it is not possible to deny or not deliver it. I will look into the matter as I am not aware of its status off-hand. Like many other thalassemic children,eight-year-old Jasmine dreads the name of hospital. She commutes to Shimla from Theog with her father every month. Due to low hemoglobin level,she has little immunity. So whenever we come to Shimla we try to make special arrangements for her in the hospital. But due the a rush,patients share beds. It increases the problem of Thalassemic kids, said her father Anil Grover. There are 150 identified thalassemia patients across Himachal and their biggest problem was availability of blood. The blood donation movement started by Umang Foundation has eased out this problem to a big extent. For other facilities,like subsidy on the expensive medicines,rehabilitation plan and a dedicated monthly clinic in all hospitals we had approached the government. But the indifferent attitude of the authorities has not allowed any progress, says Srivastava.
