New Facility Aims to Strengthen District Healthcare
Jamshedpur: Jharkhand Health Minister Dr Irfan Ansari on Wednesday inaugurated a 100-bed modern wing and a sickle cell anaemia laboratory at East Singhbhum Sadar Hospital, marking a major boost to healthcare infrastructure in the region.
Sickle Cell Lab Set Up with Tata Steel Foundation
The newly launched sickle cell anaemia laboratory has been developed in partnership with the Tata Steel Foundation (TSF), according to an official statement. The initiative aims to address a long-standing gap in diagnosis and management of the disease in the Kolhan region.
Minister Promises Better Facilities, Fewer Referrals
Speaking at the inauguration, Dr Ansari said the expansion would minimise the need for patient referrals to bigger hospitals.
He added, “The state government is committed to providing quality healthcare facilities. The hospital has been developed in line with modern healthcare standards and will have trained doctors and nurses,” as reported by PTI.
First Sickle Cell Lab in the Entire Kolhan Region
The Health Minister highlighted that this is the first sickle cell anaemia lab in the Kolhan division, which includes East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum, and Seraikela-Kharswan.
Earlier, the entire region lacked a single dedicated testing facility.
Early Detection to Improve Treatment Outcomes
Dr Pall, speaking to TOI, emphasised the importance of early diagnosis.
“Early detection is key to managing sickle cell disease. This testing facility will help the state detect cases faster and begin treatment at an early stage,” he said.
Collaborative Model for Healthcare Development
Officials at Sadar Hospital explained that the initiative is a joint effort:
- The state government provided the land,
- CCMB supplied the high-end diagnostic machine, and
- Tata Steel Foundation will bear the cost of running the facility.
Statewide Screening Campaign Already Underway
Medical Dialogues previously reported that the Jharkhand government has launched a statewide screening campaign for thalassemia, sickle cell disease, and anaemia to address the severe lack of reliable health data.
Goal: Making Jharkhand Free of Sickle Cell & Thalassemia
Health Minister Ansari has acknowledged that no district in Jharkhand has precise data on the number of affected patients, which has hampered planning and treatment.
“Our goal is to make Jharkhand free from thalassemia and sickle cell disease,” he said.
