ISLAMABAD: The number of Thalassemia patients has surpassed 2.5 million in the country and every year 6000 children are falling prey of this killer disease. Owing to lack of workable arrangements at government level in terms of blood supply, the patients have to face problems in blood transfusion every month. As many as 3 Thalassemia centers are functioning in Islamabad for the treatment of patients of this fatal disease and timely supply of blood to 700 patients of the disease is being ensured in these centers. PIMS is supplying blood to 450 patients, Pakistan Baitul Mall to 250 patients and Polyclinic to 21 patients every month. Baitul Mall is also providing blood facilities to 2800 patients all over the country. This disease is spreading fast in the country and the number of patients of this disease has swelled to over 2.5 million while the number of registered patients stands at 125,000 in the country. How pathetic it is this fatal disease has not been made part of three National Health Programs under ministry of National Health. On the other hand treatment facilities are being provided in respect of 3 diseases including Malaria, Aids and TB under National Health Program (NHP) but non inclusion of such fatal disease in NHP is a question mark on the performance of government in this sector. When contacted by Daily Times, vice Chancellor PIMS, Professor Javed Akram told that Thalassemia is a deadly disease. Non transfusion of blood timely poses life threat to patient, he added. The maximum number of people should donate blood to Thalassemia centers because million of children need blood transfusion every month. He said that treatment and blood is provided to 450 Thalassemia patients every month in PIMS. When contracted, Dr Ashraf Astori spokesman of Polyclinic said creation of awareness among the people and blood donation is must in this disease. It will be hard to rein in this deadly disease unless awareness is created among the people, he stressed.