Extending relief to haemophilia patients in the state, the health department has decided to use the drug Emicizumab to treat all children below the age of 18 who have the disorder at no cost. The treatment will be given through the Ashadhara scheme, a comprehensive health scheme that ensures care and treatment for haemophilia patients to ensure a life free of bleeding and related complications. The more expensive and advanced emicizumab prophylaxis dose is only taken once a month. About 300 children will benefit from this. This is the first time in India that prophylaxis treatment is available to such a large number of patients.

Emicizumab Prophylaxis is a medication used to prevent bleeding episodes in people with haemophilia. It’s a bio-specific antibody that helps blood to clot normally, reducing the risk of bleeding complications. Prophylaxis treatment, known as the gold standard in treating haemophilia, has been given to children up to ten since 2021. Based on the efficacy of the treatment over the last 3 years, it was decided to extend the drug to all patients below 18 years of age to benefit more patients. Switching to prophylaxis treatment can significantly reduce twice-weekly hospital visits, the rigours of intravenous injections, the associated school absences, and work loss for parents, thereby improving their quality of life.

About 2000 people suffering from haemophilia in Kerala have been registered under the Ashadhara scheme. Treatment, which was earlier available only in medical colleges and Aluva Taluk Hospital, has now been decentralized to more than 72 hospitals.