The management of beta-thalassemia in an urban district hospital.

This paper is based on the beta-thalassaemia programme at the Duchess of Kent Hospital, Sandakan, Sabah. It seeks to show that a hypertransfusion regimen which improves the quality of life of children with thalassaemia major can be practised in district and general hospitals if there is an organised blood recruitment programme, at least at departmental level. Such a programme reduces the demand on the hardpressed hospitals' blood banks. Frequent and regular transfusions can be given with minimal interference with the school and family life of affected children and reduces immeasurably the social, emotional and financial strain on the affected families.