Program helps patients versus iron overload

The Philippine Society of Hematology and Blood Transfusion (PSHBT) and research-based healthcare company Novartis Healthcare Phils. Inc. are implementing an innovative program that helps Filipino patients with blood disorders gain access to information, screening and drug treatment against iron overload — an inevitable and life-threatening consequence of the repeated blood transfusions they need.

“The PSHBT and Novartis work hand in hand on a nationwide launch of the Saling Dugo, Saling Buhay patient program. Such direct-to-patient assistance program aims to educate and inform eligible patients on the life-threatening clinical consequences of iron overload,” said Ma. Amy Palo, Oncology Business Unit head of Novartis Healthcare Philippines.

“This program also extends help to physicians’ patients by campaigning for the regular monitoring of blood transfused patients’ serum ferritin, thus helping screen patients at high risk from iron overload,” she said.

Palo added: “Novartis is able to assist iron overload patients, who were appropriately diagnosed and prescribed by hematologists, to access deferasirox. This way, hematologists are more confident of their patients’ adherence to their monthly treatment.”

Novartis’ goal, according to Palo, is to try to help Filipino patients cope with the cost burden related to iron overload drug therapy and their serum ferritin tests.

A product of Novartis, deferasirox is indicated for the treatment of chronic iron overload due to blood transfusions (transfusional hemosiderosis) in patients aged two and older.

Blood disorders, such as Thalassemia major, Myelodysplastic Syndrome and Sickle Cell disease, compromise the body’s ability to manufacture cellular components of blood, resulting in anemia.

Anemia is a condition involving a deficiency in red blood cells, the oxygen-carrying pigment hemoglobin, or total blood volume, resulting in insufficient oxygen supply to tissues and organs. Such patients usually require multiple blood transfusions to counteract the effects of anemia. However, multiple blood transfusions result in iron overload.

For more information and help on iron overload treatment, contact the PSHBT at 723-0302 local 5304.