DKMS Foundation India is supporting the Christian Medical College (CMC), Ludhiana and the Government of Punjab to facilitate affordable transplant care in the state. India faces a pressing healthcare challenge: over 10,000 children are born each year with thalassemia, a hereditary blood disorder that causes severe anaemia. These children often require lifelong blood transfusions, and without proper treatment, many do not survive beyond the age of 20. Blood stem cell transplantation offers the only curative option, but access remains limited due to financial and logistical barriers. To bridge this gap, DKMS Foundation India, through this partnership with CMC Ludhiana and the Government of Punjab, will provide free high-resolution HLA typing for Thalassemia patients and their potential family donors (siblings, parents).
It is important to note that HLA typing is the first step towards a potential cure for thalassemia and blood cancers. HLA are proteins found on most cells in the body.
Through this collaboration:
DKMS Foundation India will support free HLA typing for patients and their immediate family members.
CMC Ludhiana, under the MoU with the Punjab Government, will offer subsidised stem cell transplantation to eligible patients.
The program will prioritise remote and underserved areas, expanding awareness about DKMS Foundation India’s mission, its cause, and its thalassemia program.
Commenting on the partnership, Mr. Patrick Paul, Chairman, DKMS Foundation India underlined DKMS’s commitment to helping economically challenged patients get a second chance at life. He says, “We are happy to support our partners CMC Ludhiana with Government of Punjab. Our role is to ensure that patients from economically disadvantaged backgrounds have access to the first step toward a potential cure—high-resolution HLA typing. While some patients may find a match within their family, the rest must rely on unrelated donors from global registries. However, due to India’s genetic diversity, finding a match is especially challenging. Only 0.09% of Indian population of the relevant age is registered as blood stem cell donor. This can leave many patients without a viable option.
It is worth noting that the ongoing collaboration between the DKMS Foundation India and CMC Ludhiana, has been in place since 2021. Since then, 103 patients from Punjab have already been assisted through the DKMS Thalassemia Program, and this new MoU will drive even greater awareness and visibility for the cause in the region. This partnership will benefit 150–160 Thalassemia patients in the state.
“With DKMS Foundation India's support, we are now better positioned to reach those patients who need blood stem cell transplants the most,” said Dr. Joseph John, Professor & Head of Clinical Haematology, Haemato-Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant Unit at CMC Ludhiana. “The partnership is a significant step towards bringing relief to Thalassemia patients and underscores the commitment of all the partners involved to reduce the disparity in accessing lifesaving treatment for Thalassemia in the high-burden regions in India”, he added.