Zakat Fund spends over MVR 23 million on bone marrow transplant assistance since early 2024
Under a collaborative agreement between the Ministry of Health and the Maldives Zakat House to provide financial assistance for bone marrow transplants, six children are scheduled to travel to India for treatment during the first round of this year. Arrangements are also underway to send an additional four children once administrative procedures are finalized. As bone marrow transplantation remains the only permanent cure for thalassemia, the Zakat House has transferred MVR 2.5 million to the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) to support eligible candidates.
Arrangements have been finalized for six children with thalassemia to travel to India for bone marrow transplants funded by the Zakat Fund. | zakat house
The Maldives Zakat House has announced that more than MVR 23 million has been disbursed from the Zakat Fund since the beginning of 2024 to assist all eligible children seeking bone marrow transplants abroad.
Under a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Ministry of Islamic Affairs and the Ministry of Health on February 21, 2024, the Zakat Fund continues to provide annual financial assistance for bone marrow transplants for children with thalassemia. According to the Maldives Zakat House, financial support for bone marrow transplants has been extended to thalassemia patients on various occasions since 2014, even prior to the formalization of the current agreement.
The Maldives Zakat House has announced that six children with thalassemia, whose families lack the financial means for treatment, are scheduled to travel to India this July to undergo bone marrow transplants funded by the Zakat Fund. This marks the first group of thalassemia patients to travel abroad for this procedure this year. Additionally, Zakat House confirmed that four more children are scheduled to depart once the necessary administrative formalities are completed.
The Zakat House further stated that it transferred MVR 2.5 million from the Zakat Fund to the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) last month to cover the costs of bone marrow transplants for eligible children with thalassemia.
Bone marrow transplant currently stands as the only permanent cure for thalassemia, a hereditary blood disorder that otherwise necessitates lifelong blood transfusions and medical intervention. This specialized procedure involves replacing a patient’s diseased bone marrow with healthy stem cells from a compatible donor, enabling the body to produce healthy blood cells independently. A successful transplant allows patients to discontinue regular blood transfusions, significantly enhancing their quality of life and shielding them from the long-term complications associated with the condition.
According to information released by the Maldives Zakat House, a total of 10 children have completed the HLA donor matching process and have been authorized to travel abroad for treatment in 2026. Zakat House stated that while six children will depart in the first round, final arrangements are currently underway to send the remaining four children to empanelled hospitals in India under the Aasandha scheme.
Thalassemia is a hereditary blood disorder that necessitates lifelong blood transfusions and medical care. Currently, the only permanent cure for the condition is a bone marrow transplant. This procedure involves replacing the patient’s damaged bone marrow with healthy stem cells from a compatible donor, enabling the body to produce normal red blood cells. A successful transplant significantly enhances the patient’s quality of life, eliminates the dependency on regular transfusions, and prevents long-term complications associated with the disease. Given that this is a highly specialized and costly procedure, financial assistance plays a vital role in ensuring that eligible patients can access this life-saving treatment.
