Apollo Cancer Foundation Reinforces Commitment to Thalassemia Care; Celebrates Young Survivors; Strengthens Access to Lifesaving BMT Care
– Initiative announced on World Thalassemia Day 2026 aims to improve access to life-saving Bone Marrow Transplantation across India.
Chennai, May 14, 2026: India continues to carry one of the world’s highest Thalassemia burdens, with an estimated 1–1.5 lakh children living with Thalassemia and nearly 10,000–15,000 affected babies born every year. Marking World Thalassemia Day 2026, Apollo Cancer Foundation along with Apollo Speciality Hospitals, Teynampet, came together to celebrate the inspiring journeys of 30 Thalassemia survivors, while reaffirming its continued commitment towards awareness, early diagnosis, and access to advanced treatment for children battling Thalassemia
Thalassemia is a hereditary blood disorder in which the body is unable to produce healthy hemoglobin adequately, often leading to severe anemia and lifelong dependency on blood transfusions in many children. Without timely treatment and medical intervention, the condition can lead to serious health complications affecting growth, immunity, organs, and overall quality of life.
India continues to carry one of the world’s highest Thalassemia burdens, with nearly 1–1.5 lakh children living with Thalassemia. Additionally, around 10,000–15,000 affected babies born every year. Experts estimate that close to 42 million Indians are carriers of beta-thalassemia, underlining the growing need for awareness, early diagnosis, carrier screening, and timely access to treatment.
Recognising the long-term impact of this disorder on children and families, Apollo Cancer Foundation and Apollo Speciality Hospitals, Teynampet, have been actively strengthening Pediatric Hematology and Thalassemia care through advanced Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) programs, awareness initiatives, early diagnosis support, and comprehensive long-term care for patients across Tamil Nadu and India.
As part of these continued efforts, Apollo Cancer Foundation, in association with Coal India Ltd (CIL), is supporting access to life-saving Bone Marrow Transplantation for children from economically weaker backgrounds under the Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojana (TBSY) initiative. Launched in 2017 and currently in Phase IV, the initiative has emerged as one of India’s major healthcare access programs supporting children diagnosed with Thalassemia Major and Severe Aplastic Anaemia through a pan-India treatment approach.
Bone Marrow Transplantation remains the only established curative treatment option for many children affected by Thalassemia Major. Through Apollo’s specialized Pediatric Hematology and BMT infrastructure, eligible children undergo clinical evaluation, donor matching assessment, medical screening, pre-transplant investigations, and structured treatment support to improve access to timely care.
Apollo Hospitals has completed over 500 Thalassemia Bone Marrow Transplants, with the program achieving a 93% thalassemia-free survival rate. Apollo has also continued to advance innovative treatment approaches, including haplo-identical transplants for children without fully matched donors, further improving access to curative care for families navigating this rare blood disorder.
Addressing this condition, Dr. Preetha Reddy, Vice Chairperson of Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited said, “Thalassemia silently impacts thousands of children and families across India, yet awareness around the condition still remains limited. With early screening, timely diagnosis, and access to advanced treatment, countless young lives can be transformed. At Apollo, we believe healthcare is a shared responsibility that extends far beyond hospitals. Real change happens when healthcare institutions, governments, and corporate India come together with a common purpose. We sincerely appreciate the support extended by Coal India Limited in helping strengthen access to life-saving care and in bringing greater visibility to this often-overlooked disease. Their contribution stands as a strong example of how corporates can create meaningful social impact beyond business. We hope many more organisations step forward to support awareness, early detection programmes, and treatment initiatives for Thalassemia, because every child deserves not just treatment, but the opportunity to lead a healthy and fulfilling life.”
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Revathi Raj, Senior Consultant – Paediatrics & Haematology Oncology, Apollo Speciality Hospitals, Teynampet, said “Thalassemia affects not only the child, but also the emotional and financial wellbeing of entire families. With timely diagnosis, awareness, and access to Bone Marrow Transplantation, children can lead healthier and disease-free lives. Today, we celebrate the courage of every Thalassemia warrior who continues to inspire us.”
Dr. Ramya U, Consultant – Paediatric Haematology, Apollo Speciality Hospitals, Teynampet, added, “Thalassemia is not just a lifelong medical condition, but a challenging journey for children and their families. Many children continue to depend on regular blood transfusions due to delayed diagnosis and limited awareness around curative treatment options. Initiatives like these are important in strengthening awareness, enabling timely intervention, and improving access to advanced care that can help children lead healthier and disease-free lives.”
Mr. Karan Puri,Chief Executive Officer, Apollo Speciality Hospitals, Teynampet, said, “At Apollo, we are seeing a gradual but meaningful shift in the way Thalassemia is being diagnosed and managed, especially over the last few years in Tamil Nadu. Increased awareness, earlier intervention, improved screening, and access to specialized Pediatric Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplant care are helping more children move beyond lifelong dependency on transfusions and lead healthier lives. Seeing Thalassemia survivors today living with greater confidence and improved quality of life is extremely encouraging for both families and clinicians, and it reinforces the importance of continued awareness and timely treatment.”
The event also featured inspiring survivor interactions and patient journeys, celebrating children not as patients, but as symbols of courage, resilience, and hope.
The initiative further strengthens ongoing efforts by healthcare institutions, CSR partners, and government-supported programs to improve treatment accessibility and reduce the healthcare burden associated with Thalassemia in India. These stories reflect the potential impact of timely diagnosis, financial support, and access to specialized transplant care for families navigating Thalassemia.
About Apollo Hospitals:
Apollo revolutionised healthcare when Dr. Prathap Reddy opened the first hospital in Chennai in 1983. Today, Apollo is the world’s largest integrated healthcare platform with over 10,400 beds across 76 hospitals, 6,600+ pharmacies, 264 clinics, 2,182 diagnostic centres, and 800+ telemedicine centres. It is one of the world’s leading cardiac centers, having performed over 3,00,000 angioplasties and 2,00,000 surgeries. Apollo continues to invest in research and innovation to bring the most cutting-edge technologies, equipment, and treatment protocols to ensure patients have access to the best care in the world. Apollo’s 1,20,000 family members are dedicated to delivering exceptional care and leaving the world better than we found it.
