Apollo Cancer Foundation Reaffirms Commitment to Thalassemia Care, Honours Young Survivors
Chennai, May 15, 2026: Marking World Thalassemia Day 2026, Apollo Cancer Foundation along with Apollo Speciality Hospitals celebrated the inspiring journeys of 30 Thalassemia survivors while reaffirming its commitment towards awareness, early diagnosis and access to advanced treatment for children battling the hereditary blood disorder.
India continues to carry one of the world’s highest Thalassemia burdens, with an estimated 1–1.5 lakh children living with the condition and nearly 10,000–15,000 affected babies born every year. Medical experts estimate that close to 42 million Indians are carriers of beta-thalassemia, underlining the urgent need for increased awareness, carrier screening and timely medical intervention.
Thalassemia is a hereditary blood disorder in which the body is unable to produce healthy haemoglobin adequately, often leading to severe anaemia and lifelong dependence on blood transfusions. If left untreated, the condition can result in serious complications affecting growth, immunity, organ function and overall quality of life.
Recognising the long-term impact of the disorder on children and families, Apollo Cancer Foundation and Apollo Speciality Hospitals have strengthened paediatric haematology and Thalassemia care through advanced Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) programmes, awareness campaigns, early diagnosis initiatives and long-term patient support services.
As part of these efforts, the foundation, in association with Coal India Limited, is supporting life-saving Bone Marrow Transplantation procedures for economically disadvantaged children under the Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojana (TBSY) initiative. Launched in 2017 and currently in Phase IV, the programme has emerged as a major healthcare access initiative supporting children diagnosed with Thalassemia Major and Severe Aplastic Anaemia across India.
Hospital officials said Bone Marrow Transplantation remains the only established curative treatment for many children affected by Thalassemia Major. Through Apollo’s specialised paediatric haematology and BMT infrastructure, eligible children undergo donor matching, medical screening, pre-transplant evaluation and structured treatment support to improve access to timely care.
Apollo Hospitals has completed more than 500 Thalassemia Bone Marrow Transplants with a reported 93 per cent thalassemia-free survival rate. The hospital group has also introduced innovative approaches such as haplo-identical transplants for children without fully matched donors, thereby expanding access to curative treatment.
Dr. Preetha Reddy said greater awareness, timely screening and collaborative efforts between healthcare institutions, governments and corporate organisations are essential to transform the lives of children affected by Thalassemia.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Revathi Raj said timely diagnosis and access to Bone Marrow Transplantation could help children lead healthier and disease-free lives. Dr. Ramya U highlighted the need for stronger awareness and early intervention to reduce dependence on lifelong blood transfusions.
Karan Puri noted that increasing awareness, improved screening and access to specialised care in Tamil Nadu were helping more children overcome lifelong transfusion dependency and achieve a better quality of life.
The event also featured survivor interactions and patient stories celebrating the courage, resilience and determination of children living with Thalassemia, while reinforcing the importance of timely diagnosis, financial assistance and specialised transplant care in improving long-term outcomes for affected families.
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