Thiruvananthapuram: In a groundbreaking move on Rare Disease Day, the Kerala government has expanded free access to the life-saving drug Risdiplam for patients with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), raising the age limit from 12 to 25 years.
Announcing the decision, Health Minister Veena George said the expansion comes under the state’s Comprehensive Rare Disease Care Programme (CARE) and marks a significant step toward inclusive and equitable healthcare.
Previously restricted to children up to 12 years, the costly medication will now be provided free of charge to eligible SMA Type 2 patients up to the age of 25, based on genetic confirmation and expert medical committee recommendations. The government had earmarked ₹30 crore in the previous state budget to support the initiative.
With this bold step, nearly 80 percent of confirmed SMA patients in Kerala are expected to benefit from uninterrupted, government-funded treatment.
Spinal Muscular Atrophy is a severe genetic disorder that can cause progressive muscle weakness, loss of mobility, and in many cases, early death. Treatment is often prohibitively expensive and requires sustained medical support.
By extending coverage to young adults, Kerala aims not only to save lives but also to improve long-term quality of life and promote independence among patients who would otherwise struggle to afford continued therapy.
The decision powerfully echoes this year’s Rare Disease Day theme — “More Than You Can Imagine.” It reinforces Kerala’s firm stance that life-saving treatment must never be determined by financial capacity.
Kerala had already made history in 2022 by becoming the first state in India to provide free treatment and medicines for SMA patients. The latest expansion further cements the state’s reputation as a pioneer in compassionate, people-centric healthcare reform.
