India has achieved a significant milestone in its fight against Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), with 6 crore people screened under the National Sickle Cell Mission, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare announced on Tuesday.
The nation is close to reaching its ambitious target of screening 7 crore individuals by the 2025–26 financial year.
SCD is a chronic genetic disorder that causes systemic health complications, including chronic anaemia, painful episodes, and organ damage, significantly affecting a patient’s quality of life and life expectancy.
Screening Data and Findings
Out of the 6 crore individuals screened to date, over 2.15 lakh have been diagnosed with the disease, while 16.7 lakh have been identified as carriers.
Participating states have distributed 2.6 crore health cards to those screened.
The Ministry also revealed that Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat have reported the highest incidence of confirmed SCD cases.
Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Telangana, Karnataka, and Uttarakhand have made strong progress, achieving high screening coverage relative to their targets.
Addressing a Tribal Health Burden
Sickle Cell Disease is especially prevalent among India’s tribal population, though it also affects non-tribal communities. Recognising its impact, the government launched the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission from Madhya Pradesh on 1 July 2023. The mission aims to eliminate SCD as a public health concern by 2047.
The initiative aims to universally screen 7 crore individuals aged 0–40 years in high-risk tribal areas and complete the process by FY 2025–26.
Technology and Data Integration
Health officials use validated Point-of-Care Testing (POCT) kits to conduct screening and ensure rapid and reliable results. The government has also established a dedicated dashboard and national SCD portal to collect and manage screening data from all participating states, ensuring coordinated efforts.
The Ministry of Health has outlined its future priorities, which include intensifying efforts to screen the remaining population and ensuring proper follow-up and counselling for both diagnosed patients and identified carriers.
With focused implementation and strong state-level participation, India is steadily advancing towards its vision of eliminating sickle cell disease as a public health problem before 2047.
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