Jamshedpur: The Minister of Health, Medical Education and Family Welfare, Food Supplies, and Disaster Management, Government of Jharkhand, Irfan Ansari, inaugurated a newly constructed 100-bed modern fabricated hospital and a Sickle Cell Anaemia Lab at Sadar Hospital, Khasmahal, today. The lab has been developed with the support of Tata Steel Foundation.
The event witnessed the presence of Potka MLA Sanjib Sardar, Jamshedpur East MLA Purnima Sahu, Ghatshila MLA Somesh Chandra Soren, Deputy Commissioner Karn Satyarthi, Civil Surgeon Sahir Pal, D B Sundara Ramam, Director, Tata Steel Foundation and Sourav Roy, CEO, Tata Steel Foundation and other dignitaries.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that the new facility is not merely an infrastructure addition but a significant step towards strengthening the public health system. He said that district hospitals will be empowered to such an extent that referrals to bigger hospitals will become negligible in the future. The state government is committed to ensuring that every citizen receives quality healthcare that is accessible, safe, and timely. He added that the new hospital has been built in line with modern healthcare standards and will have trained doctors, nurses, and support staff to ensure that patients receive seamless care. He highlighted that until now, there was no government lab for sickle cell testing across Kolhan, and with Tata Steel Foundation’s support, the new lab will benefit thousands of patients in the region. He also reiterated that Sadar Hospital, Khasmahal, is being developed into a medical college.
Speaking on the occasion, D.B. Sundara Ramam, Director, Tata Steel Foundation, said: “The Sickle Cell Anaemia screening lab signifies the Foundation’s commitment to stand by its communities in difficult-to-reach areas of the State in their pressing hour of need. Our understanding of this health issue and the need for its early detection stems from the deep-seated work on MANSI — a national-level model on curbing maternal and newborn mortality across Jharkhand and Odisha. We thank the Government of Jharkhand and CSIR-CCMB for reposing their faith in us as we attempt to address health-related issues in areas where we operate.”
The newly inaugurated laboratory is built on the ICMR-approved DBS-PCR (Dried Blood Spot–PCR) technology developed by CSIR–CCMB. It will function as the central processing hub for samples from East Singhbhum, offering faster, accurate and accessible screening services for Sickle Cell Anaemia. The facility is expected to play a crucial role in supporting remote tribal regions with limited diagnostic access.
Enabled by Tata Steel Foundation with an investment of INR 4.25 crore, the project aims to screen 200,000 individuals over a period of two years, prioritising tribal communities and Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). The initiative is aligned with the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission (2023–2047), which emphasizes early detection, awareness and counseling to reduce the genetic transmission of the disease.
MLAs present at the event also shared their views on the importance of quality healthcare services and the need to strengthen medical facilities for the public.
Under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, a total of 13,90,546 ABHA IDs have been generated in East Singhbhum district. To provide patients with a superior digital health experience and ensure safe digital record-keeping, services such as Scan and Share and Digital Prescription are operational at Sadar Hospital, Khasmahal, Sub-Divisional Hospital, Ghatshila, Urban Community Health Centre, Mango, and Community Health Centres at Baharagora and Dhalbhumgarh. Plans are underway to make all services paperless in the coming months to reduce paper usage and environmental impact.
A total of 9,54,894 Ayushman cards have been issued across East Singhbhum district.
Under the Sickle Cell Anaemia Campaign, 81,650 individuals have been screened so far. Twenty-six patients were identified with the condition and have received medical treatment.
In the Intensive Care Unit of Sadar Hospital, Khasmahal, which has six beds, 193 patients have been treated during the 2025–26 financial year. The Dialysis Unit of the hospital has provided 835 dialysis sessions during the same period.
The Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU), equipped with 12 beds, has treated 344 newborns so far in the 2025–26 financial year.
Between November 12 and November 28, 2025, the district conducted a special blood donation campaign that collected 3,093 units of blood — the highest in the state. Under the Ullaas programme, 764 epilepsy patients have been identified and are receiving treatment.
