National expert group technical consultation on prevention and treatment of iron deficiency anemia

Authors : Sachdev HPS, Kurpad A, Saxena R, Kapil U

Publication Year : 2018

Abstract :

A “National Expert Group Technical Consultation on Prevention and Treatment of Iron Deficiency Anemia” was held from 23rd to 24th April 2018 at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. The Consultation was conducted under the aegis of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. The following were the Co-organizers i) Departments of Human Nutrition and Hematology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi; ii) Sitaram Bhartia Institute of Science and Research (SBISR), New Delhi; iii) Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), iv) Nutrition Society of India (NSI), v) Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine (IAPSM), vi) Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) Nutrition Sub-specialty Chapter , vii) Federation of Obstetric and Gynecological Societies of India (FOGSI), viii) Indian Public Health Association (IPHA), ix) Indian Society of Haematology and Blood Transfusion (ISHBT), x) International Epidemiological Association - South East Asia Region (IEA-SEA), xi) Alive and Thrive India, xii) Knowledge Integration and Translational Platform (KnIT – BIRAC-DBT), and xiii) World Health Organization (WHO).

The objectives of the Consultation were to discuss the cumulative scientific and epidemiological evidence, with respect to the current WHO recommendations, on benefits and safety of administration of iron to six vulnerable groups: i) infants, ii) preschool children, iii) school children aged 5-10 years, iv) adolescent boys and girls aged 10-19 years, v) women of reproductive age, and vi) pregnant and lactating women, and to provide evidence based guidelines to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, for future direction with respect to the National Iron Plus Initiative (NIPI) for prevention and control of Anemia.

The consultation followed a participative and transparent approach, comprising of presentations of relevant scientific evidence, remarks by a lead discussant, discussion among all participants, followed by the development of a consensus.

Consensus was reached on the following specific aspects:

a. Prophylactic and treatment iron dose for pregnant women and other age groups

b. Use of Enteric coated tablets

c. Use of Hemoglobin estimation techniques

d. The benefits and risks of fortification