Haemophilia patients suffer in absence of life-saving drug

Srinagar, June 3: Haemophilia patients in Kashmir are suffering due to the shortage of life-saving anti-haemophilia Factor VIII drug from the last three months.

There are around 424 patients registered at SMHS hospital who are suffering from this disease.

Haemophilia is a genetic disorder that impairs the body's ability to make blood clots, a process needed to stop bleeding. This results in people bleeding for a longer time after an injury, easy bruising, and an increased risk of bleeding inside joints or the brain.

Syed Majid Qadri, president, the Haemophilia Society of Kashmir told Greater Kashmir that the delay of Antihaemophilic Factor VIII is risking the lives of patients, especially children.

" Some children are admitted to hospital and are continuously bleeding. So, this drug will save their lives. JKMSCL should not delay , it will be a disregard" for the plight of haemophilia patients, " he said.

" If patients do not get this drug immediately, they will die. Some patients currently need factor VIII, but unfortunately this factor is not available for the last three months, “he said.

He said that due to lack of treatment and non-availability of drugs, nearly 200 patients have become disabled in the valley.

Dr Sheikh Bilal, HoD Pathology and Nodal Officer, Haemophilia told Greater Kashmir that they have registered 424 haemophilia patients at SMHS hospital and this Antihaemophilic Factor( AHF) VIII is for 300 patients including children.

"This Factor doesn't need any quality check. In fact, I have given them the undertaking in view of the patient's suffering that these are the imported drugs. Patients who are relying on this Factor are suffering and need it immediately, "he said.

Dr Bilal said that haemophilia patients are suffering from bleeding disorders. "The deficiency of this drug would create problems for the patients. JKMSCL should immediately make this drug available, "he said.

Qamar Qazi , Deputy Managing Director JKMSCL, told Greater Kashmir that this Antihaemophilic Factor( AHF) VIII will be available within 15 days.

"We have to follow the procedure for the drugs. We have to test it and then send them to different hospitals. It takes 45 days for the quality check procedure. We have communicated with the concerned departments. This drug will be available soon," he said.

According to Research Gate, in India one per 10,000 births is inherited with haemophilia. The reported number of patients with Haemophilia A is 11,586, while the estimated prevalence could be around 50,000 patients.

The latest Indian data published in the World Federation Haemophilia Annual Global Survey shows a significant increase (79.3 per cent) in the number of people known to have the condition. However, estimates based on population data in comparison with haemophilia prevalence in countries with higher rates of diagnosis and better-developed registries suggest that the actual number of people with haemophilia in India is likely to be in excess of 70,000.