Ahmedabad’s New BMT Unit: A Lifeline for Thalassemia-Affected Children
Newz Daddy Health Care Updates
Synopsis in Bullet Points:
- Inauguration of BMT Unit: DKMS Foundation India opened a 10-bed Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) unit in Ahmedabad on February 8, 2025.
- Purpose: The unit aims to provide life-saving treatment to up to 120 children annually suffering from hereditary blood disorders like thalassemia.
- Facilities: The unit includes specialized pediatric BMT beds, apheresis care facilities, and an outpatient center.
- Operational Support: Managed by Sankalp India Foundation with medical advice from Cure2Children, located at Health1 Super Specialty Hospital.
- Healthcare Challenge: Over 12,000 children in India are born with thalassemia each year, requiring lifelong blood transfusions or BMT for survival.
- Funding: DKMS committed 31.15 million Indian rupees (approx. 350,000 euros) to establish the unit under its Access to Transplantation program.
- Impact: The unit is the second funded by DKMS in India, following the success of the Bangalore unit, which has treated over 460 children since 2021.
- Story of Hope: Tanvi, a thalassemia patient, received a life-saving transplant funded by DKMS and Sankalp, transforming her life.
- Patient Support: DKMS’s Patient Funding Program helps families manage the financial burden of treatment.
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Ahmedabad Welcomes a New Hope for Thalassemia Patients: DKMS Inaugurates 10-Bed BMT Unit
February 8, 2025, Ahmedabad The opening of a cutting-edge bone marrow transplant (BMT) facility in Ahmedabad by DKMS Foundation India represents a major milestone in the fight against thalassaemia, a potentially fatal blood condition. With ten specialised paediatric beds, this new hospital hopes to make life-saving care more accessible to Gujarati and other families.
Thousands of youngsters in India suffer from thalassaemia, a genetic blood condition. This disorder, which results in severe anaemia and necessitates lifelong blood transfusions, affects more than 12,000 newborns annually. Many of these kids die before they reach adolescence if they don’t receive the right care. The only solution is bone marrow transplantation, but because to its high cost and logistical difficulties, access to this treatment has been restricted.
This gap is intended to be filled by the new BMT unit in Ahmedabad. The clinic, which can treat up to 120 children a year, is a ray of light for families dealing with the psychological and financial effects of thalassaemia. With medical assistance from Cure2Children, the unit is run by the non-profit Sankalp India Foundation. Because it is housed within Health1 Super Speciality Hospital, access to a wide range of medical services is guaranteed.
A kind donation of 31.15 million Indian rupees (about 350,000 euros) has been made to the facility by DKMS, a worldwide non-profit organisation devoted to combating blood disorders. This program is part of DKMS’s Access to Transplantation effort, which aims to increase impoverished families’ access to life-saving treatments.
The project’s vision was expressed by Dr. Elke Neujahr, Global CEO of DKMS: “We are bringing hope and healing closer to home by establishing this BMT unit in Ahmedabad.” Giving every child with thalassaemia a second shot at life—a chance to grow, smile, and embrace the future they deserve—is our dream.
This is the second BMT facility in India that DKMS has supported. More than 460 children’s lives have already been changed by the first facility, which was founded in Bangalore in 2021. Mechtild Harf, the late wife of DKMS founder Peter Harf, is honoured in both units. Her legacy continues to motivate the organization’s work.
The effect of their partnership with DKMS was emphasised by Rajat Kumar Agarwal, President of the Sankalp India Foundation: “Since 2018, we have assisted over 570 children in India. We can save even more lives and give families hope with the new unit in Ahmedabad.
The tale of Tanvi, a 16-year-old Ahmedabad girl, clearly captures the actual impact of this project. Tanvi’s childhood focused on frequent blood transfusions after receiving a diagnosis of thalassaemia at the age of six months. The family was severely strained financially since her father, who drove an autorickshaw, found it difficult to pay for the treatment.
Tanvi’s younger sister, Dhanvi, was confirmed to be a genetic match thanks to DKMS’s free HLA typing software. Tanvi is doing well now after the family had the BMT surgery at the previous Ahmedabad unit. She adores dancing and leads a vibrant, happy life.
Tanvi’s father said, “I will always be thankful to DKMS and Sankalp for giving my daughter a second chance at life.” “I can see her smile again because of them.”
DKMS’s Patient Funding Program not only supplied the transplant but also assisted Tanvi’s family in handling the cost of the operation. This assistance makes guarantee that no child is turned away from treatment because of a lack of money.
An important turning point in Ahmedabad’s and the area’s healthcare history has been reached with the opening of the new BMT centre. It helps advance knowledge of bone marrow transplantation in addition to improving access to life-saving care. This institution is a symbol of healing, optimism, and a better future for families dealing with thalassaemia.
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