Risdiplam drug for Spinal Muscular Atrophy patients to be available free of cost in all districts

Relieving news has emerged for patients suffering from Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). Health Minister K. Muralidharan announced in a statement on Saturday that Risdiplam, the medicine essential for the treatment of SMA, will now be made available free of cost at government medical colleges located in all districts of the state. The Additional Chief Secretary (Health) has been assigned the responsibility of coordinating this important initiative.

Currently, this life-saving drug is provided only through SMA clinics located at the government medical colleges in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode. Due to this limited facility, patients' families had to travel long distances to obtain the medicine, causing them significant financial burden and mental stress. Considering these difficulties, the government has now decided to distribute the medicine through the Pediatrics Department of medical colleges in all districts. This decentralised arrangement will facilitate treatment for patients and ensure their treatment continues uninterrupted.

Furthermore, this free medicine is currently provided only to children up to 12 years of age. However, the government has now initiated the necessary process to remove the age limit, so that all eligible patients can receive this benefit regardless of age. The Minister stated that the government intends to develop a new healthcare service model that can meet the needs of all affected families. This model may prove useful in the future for children suffering from other rare diseases and long-term illnesses.