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In a significant step towards improving treatment solutions for thalassemia patients in Gujarat, DKMS Foundation India has inaugurated a new Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) Unit in Ahmedabad. The facility aims to meet the growing demand for stem cell transplants in the region, providing critical care and life-saving treatment to children battling thalassemia.
The state-of-the-art center includes 10 specialized pediatric BMT beds, apheresis care facilities, and an outpatient center. A dedicated team of more than 26 professionals, including four doctors and 14 nurses, will ensure that patients receive the highest standard of care. The non-profit organization Sankalp India Foundation operates the new unit with medical advisory support from Cure2Children, located within Health1 Super Specialty Hospital, Ahmedabad.
India faces a significant healthcare challenge, with over 12,000 children born each year with thalassemia, a hereditary blood disorder that causes severe anemia. Many of these children require lifelong blood transfusions, and without proper treatment, survival beyond the age of 20 remains uncertain. Bone marrow transplantation is the only curative option, yet accessibility remains a challenge due to financial and logistical barriers.
To address this gap, DKMS has committed INR 31.15 million (approximately 350,000 euros) through its Access to Transplantation program to fund the new BMT unit. “By funding this unit in Ahmedabad, we are bringing life-saving care closer to home, reducing barriers to treatment, and supporting families who might otherwise have to travel long distances,” said Dr. Elke Neujahr, Global CEO of DKMS. “Our dream is to give every child suffering from thalassemia in India a second chance at life – to smile, grow, and embrace the future they deserve.”
The collaboration between DKMS and Sankalp India Foundation has already transformed the lives of more than 570 children in India since 2018. “With this new and expanded unit in Ahmedabad, we can now treat up to 120 children each year, offering hope and a brighter future to families affected by thalassemia,” said Rajat Kumar Agarwal, President of Sankalp.
This initiative marks the second BMT unit in India funded by DKMS in memory of Mechtild Harf, the late wife of DKMS founder Peter Harf. The first unit, established in Bangalore in 2021, has already positively impacted over 460 children with thalassemia.
A Story of Hope: Tanvi’s Journey
The impact of this initiative is best illustrated through the story of Tanvi, a young girl diagnosed with thalassemia at just six months old. Born into a family struggling with financial difficulties, her father—an auto-rickshaw driver—worked tirelessly to provide for her medical needs. Regular blood transfusions became her lifeline, but the mounting costs placed an overwhelming burden on the family.
Through DKMS’s free HLA typing and support from Sankalp, Tanvi’s younger sister, Dhanvi, was identified as a perfect genetic match for a stem cell transplant. With renewed hope, the family accessed the BMT procedure at the former Ahmedabad unit, a turning point in Tanvi’s fight against the disease. Today, five years post-transplant, 16-year-old Tanvi is thriving—full of life, energy, and a passion for dancing.
“I am immensely grateful that my daughter could receive this treatment thanks to DKMS and Sankalp,” shared Tanvi’s father. “Because of them, I can see her smile again. She now has the chance for a long and fulfilling life.”
Tanvi’s family also benefited from DKMS’s Patient Funding Program, which alleviated the financial burden of the procedure, ensuring she received the care she needed.
A Milestone for Healthcare in Gujarat
The inauguration of the new BMT unit in Ahmedabad marks a major milestone in healthcare advancement in the region. It will not only enhance access to critical treatment but also contribute to the development of specialized expertise in bone marrow transplantation, ultimately saving more lives and giving children battling thalassemia a brighter future.
