Rendering treatment services to 1200 Hemophilia and congenital bleeding disorder patients of the Sistan & Blouchestan Province in Ali Asghar(AS) Pediatric Hospital of Zahedan
Hemophilia is a hereditary bleeding disorder, in which there is a partial or total lack of an essential blood clotting factor. It is a lifelong disorder, which can lead to spontaneous bleeding as well as bleeding following injuries or surgery. The severity of hemophilia that a person has is determined by the amount of factor in the blood. The lower the amount of the factor, the more likely it is that bleeding will occur which can lead to serious health problems.
Report from: ZAUMS Public Relations & International Affairs Office
Published on: 29 August 2020
Hemophilia is a hereditary bleeding disorder, in which there is a partial or total lack of an essential blood clotting factor. It is a lifelong disorder, which can lead to spontaneous bleeding as well as bleeding following injuries or surgery. The severity of hemophilia that a person has is determined by the amount of factor in the blood. The lower the amount of the factor, the more likely it is that bleeding will occur which can lead to serious health problems.
There are several different types of hemophilia. The following two are the most common:
- Hemophilia A (Classic Hemophilia): This type is caused by a lack or decrease of clotting factor VIII.
- Hemophilia B (Christmas disease): This type is caused by a lack or decrease of clotting factor IX.
According to hemophiliafed.org, the worldwide incidence of hemophilia is not well known, but estimated at more than 400,000 people, are suffering hemophilia around the world. All races and economic groups are affected equally. Most people with hemophilia A who have access to factor replacement therapy have a normal life expectancy and are able to lead a fairly normal life. The two major forms of hemophilia occur much more commonly in males than in females. Hemophilia A is the most common type of the condition; 1 in 4,000 to 1 in 5,000 males worldwide are born with this disorder. Hemophilia B occurs in approximately 1 in 20,000 newborn males worldwide.
Hemophilia A and B are common bleeding disorders, Iran having the ninth largest such population in the world. Hemophilia affects approximately 10,500 people in Iran. In Iran, some 4,728 patients are suffering hemophilia A, some 990 hemophilia B, and a number of 3,776 are affected by other coagulation disorders. Some 60 specialized centers are currently providing services to hemophilia patients in the country. Currently, over 5,000 of hemophilia patients are covered by the health insurance in the country; the highest cost is spent on these patients’ treatment among other special diseases.
On average, each hemophiliac patient refers to healthcare centers affiliated to the health insurance organization 12 times a year and receives the necessary services. In Iran, blood transfusion services and some periodic tests are free of charge for patients suffering hemophilia, and about 19 types of hemophilia medicines are covered by the health insurance organization.
Lifetime treatment of persons with hemophilia entails a heavy financial burden. A monthly cost of 29 million Rials (about $675) is paid for each hemophilia patient treatment, which means an annual cost of 340 million Rials (about $8,000) per patient.
The most important public health intervention to prevent hemophilia is to carry out hemophilia tests during pregnancy on hemophilia carrier parents, which is done completely free of charge in some health centers.
Ali Asghar(AS) Pediatric Hospital of Zahedan renders treatment services to 1200 patients of Sistan & Blouchestan Province who suffer from Hemophilia and other congenital bleeding disorders.
Dr. Ghasem Miri-Ali Abad Deputy Chancellor for Treatment at Zahedan University of Medical Sciences (ZAUMS) in a visit by Managing Director of the Iranian Hemophilia Society to Ali Asghar(AS) Pediatric Hospital in Zahedan stated that the most common congenital bleeding disorder in Sistan and Baluchestan Province is factor XIII deficiency.
He further added: “treatment cost of these patients imposes a heavy burden on the Health System, and Zahedan University of Medical Sciences provides the patients with much of the treatment services free of charge”.
Deputy Chancellor for Treatment noted that our emphasis is on prenatal prevention and diagnosis of congenital disorders.
Mr. Ahmad Ghavidel Managing Director of Iranian Hemophilia Society said that ZUMS places special focus on offering treatment services to Hemophilia and Thalassemia patients. He stated that standard treatment equipment and facilities along with experienced staff of Zahedan Ali Asghar(AS) Pediatric Hospital are distinct example of equipment, facilities and staff available for providing treatment services to special needs patients. Mr. Ghavidel expressed the readiness of the Iranian Hemophilia Society to engage in genuine collaboration with health sector to offer integrated treatment services to hemophilia patients in the province.
Copyright © 2020 Zahedan University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved. Date Updated: 29/08/2020.
Should you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact us on: internationaloffice@zaums.ac.ir
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