Govt to Set Up Birsa Munda Prize for Developing Sickle Cell Drug

The Government of India will institute the Bhagwan Birsa Munda Prize to promote research and development of new drugs for treating Sickle cell disease. This was announced by the Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, Durgadas Uikey, in a function held at the All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), New Delhi, on World Sickle Cell Day on 19 June 2025..

He also announced the setting up the National Tribal Health and Research Institute in AIIMS. New Delhi.

World Sickle Cell Day is observed on 19 June every year to raise awareness among people and policymakers about genetic blood disorders.

About the Bhagwan Birsa Munda Prize for Sickle Cell Drugs 

• The Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs has instituted the Bhagwan Birsa Munda Prize for Sickle Cell Drugs in collaboration with AIIMS Delhi. 
• It will provide funds up to Rs 10 crore for the approved drug research proposal for treating Sickle cell. 
• Birsa Munda was a Santhal tribal leader of the Chota Nagpur area of Jharkhand and West Bengal.
•  He led the tribal revolt against British rule and is considered a Bhagwan(God) by the tribals.

About the Sickle Cell Disorder 

Sickle cell disease is a genetic disorder that affects the haemoglobin in red blood cells. 

Haemoglobin is made of protein and iron molecules. 

Because of the presence of iron molecules, blood is red. 

Haemoglobin carries oxygen to the different tissues and organs of the body.

Sickle cell disease is caused by the sickle-like structure of the patient's red blood cells, which sometimes fails to pass through the blood vessel, resulting in a blockage.

Due to this, many parts of the body's tissue are unable to receive sufficient amounts of oxygen, causing complications and severe cases of anaemia.

There is no cure for the disease, and there are only drugs available in India that are used to treat Sickle cell patients.

The institution of the Bhagawan Birsa Munda Prize is an effort of the government to encourage research and development of a drug for Sickle cell disease.

Government of India's Steps to deal with Sickle cell Disease

The government has set a target to eliminate sickle cell genetic transmission by 2047 in the country.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the National Mission to Eliminate Sickle Cell Anaemia on 1st July 2023 at Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh.

Implementing Ministry

• The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, under its National Health Mission, is implementing the National Mission to Eliminate Sickle Cell Anaemia.

Focus 

• It focuses on early detection and treatment of Sickle Cell disease amongst people, especially the tribal population.
• The prevalence of Sickle Cell disease amongst the Tribal population is higher than the non tribal population in india.
• The focus is on 17 states: Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Assam, West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Uttarakhand.
• The government has set up Centres of Competence to provide effective health care in the top medical colleges of 15 states, including AIIMS  Delhi.

National Tribal Health and Research Institute

The institute will be set up in AIIMS, New Delhi, by the Union Tribal Affairs Ministry.

Function 

• It will be an advanced research centre for Sickle Cell disease, focusing on tribal people.
• Provide outpatient and inpatient medical care facilities to tribal people. 
• Act as a referral hospital for peripheral hospitals in the tribal dominated areas.

Theme of World Sickle Cell Day 2025

• The theme for World Sickle Cell Day is -Global Action, Local Impact: Empowering Communities for Effective Self-Advocacy.

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