Udaipur, February 14 (Udaipur Kiran): The Central Government has established 17 Centres of Excellence across the country for screening and treatment of Sickle Cell Anaemia, with RNT Medical College, Udaipur designated as the centre for Rajasthan.
The information was shared by the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry in Parliament in response to a question raised by MP Dr. Mannalal Rawat.
Dr. Rawat had sought details under the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission regarding the total number of individuals screened for Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) till December 2025, and the number identified as carriers (Sickle Cell Trait) and patients (Sickle Cell Disease). He also asked whether the target of screening seven crore individuals by the end of 2025 had been achieved.
Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Smt. Anupriya Patel, informed that under the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission (NSCAEM), screening for Sickle Cell Disease is being conducted for individuals in the 0–40 years age group across health facilities ranging from District Hospitals (DH) to Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAM) in 17 affected tribal states.
According to the Sickle Cell Disease portal, as of February 3, 2026, more than 6.83 crore individuals in tribal-dominated areas across the country have been screened. During this period, 2,37,981 individuals were identified as affected by the disease, while 19,32,500 were found to be carriers.
In Rajasthan, 37,06,689 people have been screened so far. Of these, 2,885 were found to be affected by the disease and 8,453 were identified as carriers.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has also framed cost norms for establishing Centres of Excellence for Sickle Cell Disease funded by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. A total of 17 Centres of Excellence have been approved in 15 states. For Rajasthan, the Centre has been set up at RNT Medical College, Udaipur.
Through Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, patients affected by Sickle Cell Disease are being provided regular monitoring, lifestyle management guidance, counselling on marriage and pregnancy-related decisions, distribution of folic acid tablets for nutritional support, and yoga and health sessions to improve quality of life.
To address access to medicines, Hydroxyurea has been included in the mandatory drug list under the National Health Mission (NHM) at Sub-Health Centres, Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Urban Primary Health Centres, Community Health Centres (CHCs) and District Hospitals. The Ministry provides technical and financial assistance to states and Union Territories under NHM based on Programme Implementation Plan (PIP) proposals for screening and procurement of medicines related to Sickle Cell Anaemia.
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