Over
300 patients and families screened; initiative led by Dr. Sunil Bhat aims to
accelerate access to curative bone marrow transplants.
Kolkata,
December 22, 2025 : Narayana Health City, Bengaluru, yesterday
announced the successful completion of one of Eastern India’s largest HLA
Testing Camps for thalassemia patients, held at Narayana RN Tagore Hospital,
Mukundapur. Organised in association with DKMS, Thalassemics India, Coal India,
the Federation of Blood Donor Organisations of India, and Paschim Bangal Sikkim
Prantiya Marwari Yuva Manch, the camp screened more than 300 children and their
family members to identify potential matches for bone marrow transplantation
(BMT), the only curative treatment for thalassemia.
The
initiative was led by Dr. Sunil Bhat, Vice-Chairman Oncology Collegium,
Narayana Health Group, Director and Head of Pediatric Haematology, Oncology and
Blood & Marrow Transplantation, Narayana Health City, Bengaluru.
India
continues to face a significant burden of thalassemia, particularly in Eastern
India, where many children rely on lifelong blood transfusions. Early HLA
testing plays a crucial role in identifying matched donors for bone marrow
transplants, which offer the potential for a normal life.
Speaking
on the outcome, Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty, Founder and Chairman, Narayana
Health, said, “Every child deserves access to a definitive cure. Through
this large-scale HLA screening, we are helping families take a crucial step
toward finding a suitable donor match. Our commitment remains unwavering to
ensure that no child is denied a healthy future because of financial
constraints or lack of access to advanced care.”
Sharing
his insights on the camp’s impact, Dr. Sunil Bhat said, “We are
encouraged by the overwhelming response from families across West Bengal and
neighbouring regions. Many children screened today have taken the first and
most essential step toward curative treatment. Timely testing can transform
outcomes, and we are committed to supporting every eligible family in their BMT
journey.”
Narayana
Health, which operates one of India’s most advanced Bone Marrow Transplant
programs and has completed over 2,500 transplants, will provide financial
assistance to eligible patients identified with suitable matches through this
camp. The camp also witnessed extensive awareness generation, on-site
counselling, and close coordination with referring centres to ensure seamless
participation.
About
Narayana Health
Narayana
Health, founded by Dr. Devi Shetty and headquartered in Bengaluru, is a leading
presence in the global healthcare landscape. As one of the largest healthcare
providers in India, Narayana Health operates a comprehensive range of primary,
secondary and super-speciality tertiary care facilities across India and the
Caribbean. The group’s Centres of Excellence in various medical domains, a team
of 18,822 dedicated professionals, including 3,868 skilled doctors and
specialists, and a relentless focus on patient well-being and clinical
excellence underscore its position as a beacon of hope and healing in the
healthcare industry.
Narayana
One Health (NH Integrated Care) and Narayana Health Insurance are subsidiaries
of Narayana Health.
For
more information, visit https://www.narayanahealth.org/