By: IPP Bureau
Last updated : May 07, 2026 5:02 pm
The initiative by DKMS Foundation India is for below 12 years children suffering from transfusion-dependent thalassemia
Ahead of World Thalassaemia Day, 12-year-old Sameeksha, a thalassaemia patient, met the man who gave her a second chance at life — her stem cell donor, Dilip K., a 27-year-old IT professional from Kolar, Karnataka.
Marking this special occasion, DKMS announced free HLA typing for all children below 12 years of age in India who are suffering from transfusion-dependent thalassaemia.
This initiative aims to improve access to stem cell transplantation and offer hope to thousands of young patients awaiting a matching donor. The announcement was made during the emotional meet between Dilip K. and Sameeksha, a beneficiary of the DKMS program, highlighting the life-changing impact of stem cell donation and the urgent need to expand the donor registry in India.
Patrick Paul, Executive Chairman, DKMS Foundation India, said, “The DKMS Access To Transplant program aims to remove this barrier to the life-saving treatment as in Sameeksha’s case. Efforts of this program have illuminated the path towards a brighter future for many patients like Sameeksha, providing them with the promise of a healthier life.”
Dr. Elke Neujahr, Global CEO, DKMS Group, said, DKMS Foundation India’s Thalassaemia Program is designed to address critical gaps in affordability and access that often prevent patients from receiving curative treatment. Through initiatives such as free HLA typing for children below 12 years suffering from transfusion-dependent beta thalassaemia in India, we aim to ease the burden on families navigating the transplant journey.
Under this programme, DKMS partners with like-minded NGOs and transplant centres to support thalassaemia patients through awareness and screening camps across the country.
“Finding a matched unrelated donor for a child is never guaranteed, and when Dilip’s match came through, it was a moment of immense relief for our entire team. Sameeksha’s journey shows what is possible when early diagnosis is supported by timely medical care and when someone, somewhere, chooses to register, said Dr. Siddhesh Kalantri, consultant Haematologist, Stem Cell Transplant Physician, BloodCare Hematology Clinic & Diagnostic Centre.