For over two decades, TWA Chennai has provided lifesaving blood transfusions, medicines, and comprehensive care to thalassemia patients — completely free of cost. No family should lose a child to a treatable condition.
"In 2006, a group of patient families, volunteers, and physicians came together to support patients with thalassaemia. The centre grew from four patients in 2006 to 199 patients in 2026 — and this is our story from the heart."
The initial challenge was to provide safe transfusions. We invested in leucodepletion filters and fourth-generation ELISA kits. Through persistent advocacy — including visits by celebrities and politicians — thalassaemia comprehensive care is now included in the government insurance scheme, covering diagnosis, transfusion, chelation, cardiac and endocrine support, and even curative BMT, completely free.
We have now performed over 300 BMT procedures fully free of cost, including haploidentical BMT through an MoU with Apollo Hospitals, Chennai. Prenatal diagnosis is the way forward — we have assisted over 100 chorion villous sampling procedures through an MoU with Mediscan Systems.
Our goal is to include thalassaemia testing in all routine antenatal screening, followed by genetic counselling. The physical, social, and psychological well-being of every family is our focus. The future holds gene therapy, and we hope all our patients will be able to benefit from this and lead a healthy life.
Read the full story in her own words →“We share our baby steps, our challenges, where we have fallen, and all the success stories.”
Thalassemia major is a lifelong condition. Patients need transfusions every few weeks and daily medication for life. Our programmes are built around that reality.
We coordinate with partner hospitals and blood banks to ensure regular, screened, leukocyte-filtered transfusions every 2–4 weeks for the patients in our care. Using leucodepletion filters and 4th generation ELISA kits. Febrile reaction rates kept below 1%. A pioneering use of scalp vein sets protects veins in long-term patients.
Learn moreIron chelators like deferasirox are essential to prevent iron overload but cost ₹2,000–₹4,000 a month. We provide them free to families who cannot afford the lifelong expense. Chelation therapy is fully covered under the government insurance scheme. Our team monitors each patient’s ferritin, liver, and cardiac iron quarterly.
Learn moreQuarterly ferritin, liver, kidney and cardiac monitoring at our partner laboratories — at no cost to patient families. Includes Hepatitis C screening and antiviral treatment where needed. All patients receive Vitamin D supplementation every 6 months to address bone disease.
Learn moreMany of our patients travel from neighbouring districts. We assist with transit costs so a hospital visit never becomes a financial choice.
Learn moreWe run carrier-screening drives in colleges, workplaces and community events. We have represented thalassemia awareness at all regional obstetric meetings and conferences across Tamil Nadu. Our campaigns have reached the high-prevalence district of Sitteri, Dharmapuri.
Learn moreA diagnosis changes a family. We support parents with guidance on care planning, school continuity and access to government schemes. We provide extended family counselling to prevent new affected births in existing families. We have assisted 9 successful deliveries within our own thalassemia patient cohort.
Learn moreWe publish every line item because trust is built on transparency, not slogans.
Comprehensive care including BMT, chelation, diagnostics, and transfusions for our patients is covered under the government insurance scheme through years of advocacy by TWA.
Society registered under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act. Governance documents available on request.
Donations are eligible for tax deduction under Section 80G. Registration certificates held; numbers available on request.
Independent statutory audit every financial year. Reports available on the Transparency page or on request.
Board includes parents of patients, treating physicians and independent professionals. No staff member sits on the board.
Donations to TWA Chennai qualify for a 50% deduction under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act, 1961. An instant 80G receipt is emailed after every donation.
Illustrative calculation. Your actual tax benefit depends on your assessed income. Consult your tax advisor for advice specific to your situation.
Patients on our register need transfusions every 2–4 weeks. We coordinate drives across Chennai and welcome donors any time at our partner blood banks.
Age 18–65, weight ≥ 50 kg, in good health and last donation more than 90 days ago.
Whole blood donation takes about 10 minutes. Sterile, single-use equipment is used at every camp.
Donors receive a free haemoglobin and blood-pressure screening at every donation.
A single unit of whole blood can be separated into red cells, plasma and platelets, helping multiple patients.
Blood donors are the foundation of everything we do. Without consistent, voluntary donors, there is no alternative for our patients. We remain deeply grateful to every individual who has donated blood at our camps over the past two decades.
TWA works alongside a network of hospitals, NGOs, and government bodies that share our commitment to comprehensive thalassemia care across Tamil Nadu.
MoU partner for haploidentical Bone Marrow Transplantation — over 300 BMTs performed free.
MoU partner for prenatal diagnosis and chorion villous sampling — over 100 procedures completed.
Provides high-quality nutritious meals to patients attending transfusion sessions.
Conducts art therapy and creative wellness sessions for our young patients.
Corporate donor supporting patient care and programme costs at TWA Chennai.
Corporate donor supporting patient care and programme costs at TWA Chennai.
Corporate donor supporting safer transfusions through bedside blood filters for our patients.
We are grateful to all blood donors, corporate partners, and individual supporters who make this work possible. TWA is also supported by government schemes that cover complete thalassemia care for patients at no cost.
We are deeply grateful to the organisations whose generosity directly funds patient care at VHS Hospital.
Patient faces blurred to protect privacy.
Five-Star Business Finance Limited made a transformative contribution towards medicines for our patients. This donation directly funds chelation therapy and supporting medicines for all 199 patients on our care register — ensuring uninterrupted treatment for an entire year.
Represented by Mr. Sivaramakrishnan, CSR Manager
SAIPEM donated bedside leucocyte filters for our patients. Every unit of blood is passed through a filter at the bedside during transfusion, removing white cells that cause reactions and long-term complications — making each of the thousands of transfusions we support every year safer.
Presented at VHS Thalassaemia Centre, Chennai
Our work has been covered by leading publications across Tamil Nadu and India — from treatment milestones to advocacy and community fundraising.
Four children successfully treated at VHS Taramani under the Kalaignar health insurance scheme. Reports that 159 youngsters from across Tamil Nadu are registered with TWA, receiving free transfusions.
Link being sourcedTribal children in rural Dharmapuri travel to the TWA Chennai centre in Taramani for monthly blood transfusions, highlighting the statewide reach of the programme.
Link being sourcedDr. Revathi Raj (TWA Honorary President) confirmed an acute blood shortage at VHS Chennai during COVID-19 lockdowns. Patients’ haemoglobin levels fell as transfusions were delayed across the city.
Link being sourcedThe Rotary Club of Chennai Port City donated ₹2 lakh to TWA at VHS Taramani via a musical concert fundraiser, supporting ongoing thalassemia patient care and education programmes.
Link being sourced
