The Ministry of Health has stated that preparations are being made to facilitate the first child's bone marrow transplant. The first child to travel abroad for the operation is a nine-year-old girl.
There are 943 registered thalassemia patients in the Maldives, with 655 of them currently alive. Thalassemia patients require ongoing treatment to reduce their iron levels, and the sole permanent solution is a bone marrow transplant.
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu recently approved his Cabinet's recommendation to facilitate free bone marrow transplants and strengthen and expand services for Thalassaemia patients. Strengthening healthcare services offered to thalassaemia patients and facilitating government sponsorship for bone marrow transplants of eligible thalassaemia patients is a key component of the administration's roadmap for the first 14 weeks.
The Cabinet approved a short-term expedited assessment process for finalising Thalassaemia patients requiring bone marrow transplants as part of a strategic initiative to establish a sustainable framework for government-sponsored transplants. Each year, a set number of eligible Thalassaemia patients would be sponsored for overseas transplant procedures to support ten patients annually by 2028.
Speaking to PSM News, Senior Specialist Registrar of the Ministry of Health Dr. Ahmed Umar said that 40 children are currently listed as eligible for bone marrow transplants. These children are from families who have found a bone marrow donor. He said that five of them are ready to travel abroad for the operation, adding that the government aims to send a certain number of children every year.
As such, Dr. Umar said that the first batch of children will be sent to a prominent hospital in India. He also said that the children will be sent abroad after a team from the hospital arrives in the Maldives to conduct tests and check whether they are healthy enough to leave.
Additionally, Director General of Health Service Dr. Ahmed Ashraf said the children will be sent abroad based on their health condition. He noted that even if a donor is available, the operation will be hampered if the child's health does not for allow it. Therefore, he said the families should make sure that the children who have received a donor are healthy and fit for surgery.
Furthermore, Dr. Ashraf said that the hospital was chosen after determining that it had the best team of doctors. He said that the government is continuing to evaluate hospitals in India and Italy. He also said that the list is open for other children who wish to undergo bone marrow transplants. He detailed that they can submit their request to the Thalassemia Centre and the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) will arrange for the necessary tests to be conducted.