The Government of India has screened more than 6.83 crore individuals in tribal-dominated areas for sickle cell anaemia as of February 3, 2026. Among those screened, nearly 2.38 lakh individuals have been diagnosed with the disease, while over 19.32 lakh have been identified as carriers.
Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel shared these figures in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.
Screening Drive Across 17 Tribal States
Under the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission (NSCAEM), health authorities are conducting systematic screening of individuals aged 0 to 40 years. The programme covers all health facilities across 17 tribal-affected states to ensure early diagnosis and timely intervention.
As reported by The Print, according to data from the Sickle Cell Disease portal, authorities have carried out more than 6.83 crore screenings nationwide in tribal-dominated regions. Notably, Odisha alone accounts for 60.83 lakh screenings as of February 3, 2026.
As a result of this large-scale drive, officials have identified 2,37,981 individuals with sickle cell disease and 19,32,500 carriers.
Centres of Excellence to Strengthen Care
In addition to screening efforts, the Union Health Ministry has established cost norms for setting up Centres of Excellence dedicated to Sickle Cell Disease. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) is funding these centres to enhance diagnosis, treatment, and long-term disease management.
So far, MoTA has approved 17 Centres of Excellence across 15 states, thereby strengthening specialised care infrastructure in high-burden regions.