Open AccessThalassaemia control in developing counties- the Sri Lankan perspective
Author(s) -
Doreen M.D. Perera,
Dewni Gunasekara,
Ananda Wijekoon,
Mary Petrou
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
ceylon medical journal/the ceylon medical journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2386-1274
pISSN - 0009-0875
DOI - 10.4038/cmj.v45i1.7995
Subject(s) - medicine , sri lanka , perspective (graphical) , control (management) , traditional medicine , family medicine , south asia , ancient history , artificial intelligence , computer science , history
Beta thalassaemia is a Mendelian recessive disorder. The economic and social cost of the disease is high due to patients' life long need for monthly blood transfusions and treatment with desferrioxamine, an iron chelating agent. Wider availability of cheaper drugs is on the horizon. If there is no concomitant reduction in the number of new thalassaemia major births, there will be a cumulative increase in numbers requiring treatment. The frequency and severity, and the economic and social costs of thalassaemia, support the case for the introduction of a carrier screening and counselling program in Sri Lanka. A three-pronged plan emphasising professional, political and public education in outlined.