India, Jan. 13 -- India finds itself at the crossroads of its journey in the field of health. Today, almost 45 million people in the country are thalassemia carriers. Annually, 15,000 children are born with thalassemia major. In other words, 15,000 children are born every year with a condition that could have been prevented. It's not just about health care. It's the story of families that are stretched too thin, children in hospital beds, and healthcare systems pushed to the breaking point.

Thalassemia is a genetic blood disorder that influences the production of haemoglobin in the body. Looking at figures on paper, the carrier rate in the national carrier is 3 to 4%, though in some parts, it is much higher. What these figures point to a...