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Dr Lanzkron

US experts review sickle cell treatment in Bahrain

MANAMA, January 30, 2015

A team of US experts will report back to Bahrain’s Health Ministry within a month after conducting a review of the kingdom’s sickle cell disease (SCD) treatment programme.

The four-member team from Johns Hopkins Medicine International (JHI) Sickle Cell Centre for Adults has been in Bahrain since Monday (January 26), visiting the country's Hereditary Blood Disorder Centre as well as interviewing patients, medical staff and volunteers, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

They were invited at the request of Health Minister Sadiq Al Shehabi to offer feedback on how Bahrain can improve care for sickle cell anaemia patients.

A total of 46 people died from the hereditary blood disease last year, according to figures compiled by the Bahrain Society for Sickle Cell Anaemia Patients Care. This compares with 32 deaths last year, 47 in 2012, 32 in 2011, 35 in 2010, and 25 in 2009.

Campaigners have criticised Bahrain's response to the problem, which has been hindered by bed shortages at Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC).

Director of the JHI Sickle Cell Centre for Adults, Dr Sophie Lanzkron, said that even though sickle cell disease was more widespread in Bahrain, the challenges were similar in the US.

“The challenges associated with patients in Bahrain are similar to those in America, especially because sickle cell disease is a challenge for both patients and health workers,” Dr Lanzkron told a Press conference yesterday at SMC.

She described Bahrain's efforts to confront the disease, which cannot be cured, as 'commendable' - particularly the opening of a dedicated facility costing BD4.7 million ($12.3 million) last February.

“We see that the strengths of Bahrain in its efforts to fight the disease are many and commendable, including the multi-speciality centre,” she said.

“To have an exclusive centre for SCD and patients getting special attention is definitely unique and signifies hope building.”

However, she told the GDN there was room for improvement in terms of communication between patients and healthcare providers.

“It is the same story everywhere, the patient-provider communication is the major aspect which needs attention,” she said.

“I think there is room for improvement in the patient-provider communication, where there is a need to have a common language - an understanding - between the two.

“This is a universal challenge and we have this problem everywhere. There is ever a lack of understanding from both patient and providers' side.”

Dr Lanzkron said this would be highlighted in recommendations that would be presented to the Health Ministry.

“People with SCD deal with pain every day of their lives and the care provider needs to understand this,” she explained.

“Sometimes they don't look in pain, but we need to know that they are facing a huge challenge by dealing with this pain and while they go about their daily life like everyone else.”

She also acknowledged that there was a shortage of haematologists in Bahrain.

“I am impressed at the way a surgeon in the multi-speciality centre spoke about SCD, displaying a perfect understanding of the SCD complications,” she said.

“Haematologists are a need, but having an understanding of the disease and its treatment matters.”

Challenge

“There aren't enough haematologists in the world and this problem is also not unique to Bahrain.”

Dr Lanzkron also highlighted the challenge posed by the large number of sickle cell disease sufferers in Bahrain.

“We (JHI ) treat around 550 patients, while the number is small compared to the Arab countries - in Bahrain the main hospital (SMC) handles nearly 5,000 patients,” she said.

Pain management specialist Dr Christopher Carroll said drugs prescribed to patients in Bahrain were the same as those in the US, but varied in doses.

“The usage of drugs like morphine and its demands are concerns in every country,” said Dr Carroll.

“The prescription and the usage of these drugs always creates tension between patients and health workers - it is an act of balancing.”

Meanwhile, JHI Middle East and North Africa director Sharaf Saleh suggested Bahrain should establish research centre on SCD, given the large number of patients here. - TradeArabia News Service




Tags: Bahrain | US | cell | Treatment | Experts | sickle |

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