AP To Frame Policy For Rare Disease Patients
The policy was being formulated following directions from Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu: Health minister Satya Kumar Yadav
VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh government is preparing a policy on rare diseases to provide financial and healthcare support to patients by the end of 2026, in line with the National Policy for Rare Diseases-2021.
Health minister Satya Kumar Yadav said on Saturday that the policy was being formulated following directions from Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
The minister said the proposed policy would include the creation of a state-level registry of patients, specialised training for doctors and the establishment of referral centres for treatment and care.
Expressing concern over the difficulties faced by patients suffering from rare diseases, Satya Kumar said many were confined to beds or wheelchairs and struggled with day-to-day activities. The government aims to provide better healthcare services and support mechanisms through the new policy, he added.
Under the National Policy for Rare Diseases, the disorders are classified into three categories. The first covers diseases that can be cured through one-time treatment, the second includes conditions requiring long-term management at relatively low cost, and the third comprises diseases needing continuous and expensive medical care. There are 66 identified rare diseases under the policy framework.
The minister said the state could receive up to ₹5 crore from the Centre for the purchase of medical equipment to be installed at selected healthcare facilities.