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India Approaches 6 Crore Screenings Under National Sickle Cell Mission

Specialist care hubs will strengthen diagnosis and treatment in tribal regions.

India faces 1.4 million SCD cases, with 20 million carriers nationwide
Beyond the Crisis: A Life Shaped by Sickle Cell Disease

Overview

  • Over 5.79 crore people have been screened, identifying 2.09 lakh with sickle cell disease and 16.3 lakh carriers.
  • The mission spans 17 states and 278 districts and aims to screen seven crore individuals under age 40 by 2025-26.
  • New Centres of Excellence and Competence are being established to boost local diagnostic and treatment capacities.
  • Tribal communities in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh face the highest burden due to prevalence and access barriers.
  • Expanded protocols include hydroxyurea distribution, routine monitoring, vaccinations and neonatal screening to curb long-term complications.