Bhubaneswar: The state govt, to care for people fighting rare blood disorders, has introduced two advanced and essential medicines for patients with haemophilia and Von Willebrand disease (VWD) for the first time in the state.The medicines include extended half-life Factor VIII injection and Von Willebrand Factor with Factor VIII injection, health minister Mukesh Mahaling said on Sunday.Explaining the significance of the move, an official of the health and family welfare department said the extended half-life Factor VIII injection is a next-generation treatment for haemophilia patients that remains active in the body for a longer duration. “This reduces the frequency of injections, lowers the risk of internal bleeding and significantly improves the quality of life of patients, who otherwise require frequent hospital visits,” Mahaling said.The second medicine, Von Willebrand Factor with Factor VIII injection, is used to treat patients suffering from Von Willebrand disease, a genetic bleeding disorder that affects blood clotting. The injection helps control excessive bleeding during injuries, surgeries, or medical procedures by replacing the deficient clotting factors in the blood.Mahaling said the initiative aims to ensure safe, timely, and uninterrupted treatment for patients with these lifelong conditions. “The govt is committed to strengthening health security and ensuring that patients with rare disorders are not deprived of critical and costly medicines,” he said, describing the decision as a major step towards equitable and inclusive healthcare.Health officials noted that access to these injections within the state will reduce dependence on out-of-state treatment and ease the financial burden on affected families. The programme is also expected to improve long-term health outcomes for patients through better disease management and prevention of complications, the health department official said.Haemophilia is a blood disorder in which a patient’s blood does not clot properly. Around 1,500 haemophilia patients are registered in the state.
