MORE than 9,000 persons are being treated for thalassaemia in public hospitals, with each patient chalking up treatment costs of around RM3mil each from infancy until they reach 40, says Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
The Health Minister said 9,554 patients are currently receiving treatment at public hospitals nationwide, with standard treatment including regular blood transfusions, chelation therapy to control iron overload, and other supportive clinical care.
