
Karnataka brings bone marrow transplantation under AB-ArK
The Hindu
Cardiologist MP C.N. Manjunath praises Karnataka government for adding free bone marrow transplants to healthcare scheme.
Cardiologist and Bengaluru Rural MP C.N. Manjunath welcomed on Sunday the State government’s decision to include free bone marrow transplantation under the Ayushman Bharat-Arogya Karnataka (AB-ArK).
“Bone marrow transplantation is required for patients suffering from bone cancer, thalassemia, aplastic anaemia, and other haematological-related disorders. Currently, this particular procedure costs about ₹20 lakh to ₹40 lakh in private hospitals and about ₹10 lakh to ₹12 lakh in public hospitals,” he said in a statement on social media platform X.
He said that now with bone marrow transplantation being included as a coded procedure, it will be done free of cost in empanelled hospitals. “It is a great boon for patients in the BPL category who will immensely benefit by this initiative.” He thanked Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, and Principal Secretary of Health and Family Welfare Department Harsh Gupta.
In October 2024, the MP wrote to the State government to include bone marrow transplantation under AB-ArK and Jeevan Sarthakathe schemes since transplantation of heart, lung, liver, and kidney are already included. “On an average, about 75 to 100 patients suffering from bone cancer, thalassemia, aplastic anaemia and other related haematological disorders require bone marrow transplantation in Karnataka,” he had said in the letter. Dr. Manjunath had pointed out that similar arrangements were available in Andhra Pradesh and Telengana.

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