Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, during her budget speech in Parliament, that the central government aims to eliminate sickle cell anemia by 2047 and that a mission will soon be launched in this regard. The mission will create awareness among the common people with universal screening of seven crore people in the age group of 0 to 40 years in the tribal areas and counselling through the collaborative efforts of central ministries and state governments.
Speaking on medical research, she said that facilities in select ICMR labs will be made available for research by public and private medical college faculty and private sector research and development teams to encourage collaborative research and innovation. Dwelling on the subject of pharma innovation, the Finance Minister said that a new programme to promote research and innovation in pharmaceuticals will be taken up through centres of excellence. She said that the government will also encourage industry to invest in research and development in specific priority areas. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya reacted to the Budget and said that the budget promises to free the country from sickle cell anaemia when India celebrates 100 years of its independence. “An important announcement was made in this budget for the Ministry of Health. A government laboratory will be opened for those doing research in the health sector. The country should be free from sickle cell anaemia when it will be celebrating its 100 years of independence,” Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said. “Sickle cell anemia is a major disease among the tribal population. Seven crore people below the age group of 40 years will be screened for this disease,” Mandaviya added. Mandivya further informed that 157 Medical Colleges have been opened across the country since 2014
