In a significant step toward eliminating one of India’s most persistent genetic disorders, the Government of India has launched a nationwide deployment of affordable sickle cell anaemia test kits, reducing the cost of screening from an average of ₹350 to under ₹50 per kit.
The move is a key milestone in the government’s National Sickle Cell Elimination Programme, which seeks to screen 70 million individuals across tribal and high-risk populations in states like Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha—regions where up to 1 in 70 children are born with the disease.
A Strategic Breakthrough in Public Health
The low-cost kits, which include both finger-prick rapid diagnostic kits and genetic assays, have been rigorously validated by premier ICMR research centres including the National Institute of Immunohaematology (NIIH), Mumbai and CRHCM, Nagpur. Following an exhaustive cost-effectiveness study by NIIH and PGI Chandigarh, the National Health Mission capped procurement costs at ₹100—though competitive state tenders brought this figure down further.
This shift is expected to save ₹1,857 crore in public health spending, government officials said, marking one of the most cost-efficient mass screening initiatives in India’s medical history.
Widespread Implementation Backed by Scientific Validation
A total of 35 testing kits from multiple manufacturers have been approved for field deployment. These kits are now being distributed in phases across districts with high sickle cell prevalence, and frontline health workers have been trained in their use.
Dr. Prabhakar Kedar of NIIH and Dr. Naga Muralidhar from Nagpur were instrumental in independently validating the performance of these diagnostic tools, ensuring scientific integrity and reliability before public rollout.
Aiming for Elimination by 2047
Sickle cell anaemia, a hereditary blood disorder, affects over 20 million carriers in India and leads to lifelong health complications, especially among tribal and marginalized communities. Its symptoms include chronic pain, anemia, organ damage, and frequent infections. If not managed early, the disease can severely impact quality of life and economic productivity.
By 2047—the centenary of Indian independence—the government aims to eliminate new cases through comprehensive screening, early diagnosis, genetic counselling, and community education. Officials also highlighted the importance of linking the screening drive with insurance coverage, legal protections, and psychosocial support for affected individuals.
A Blueprint for Future Genetic Disease Control
Public health experts say the initiative can serve as a blueprint for tackling other genetic diseases in India through cost-optimized, decentralized screening and diagnostics.
“This is not just about lowering the price of kits—it’s about creating systems that ensure no child is born with preventable pain,” said an official from the Ministry of Health. “We’ve now shown that science, scale, and strategy can come together to rewrite the future.”
