Bangladesh Thalassemia Foundation

What Bangladesh Thalassemia Foundation does

Bangladesh Thalassemia Foundation (BTF) is a non-profit organization founded in 2002 and headquartered at 30 Chamelibagh, Shantinagar, Dhaka. It operates the only specialized comprehensive thalassemia treatment center in Bangladesh, a 20-bed hospital delivering blood transfusion, specialist consultation, iron chelation medicines, and laboratory diagnostics as a one-stop service. The foundation currently treats approximately 7,800 thalassemia patients drawn from all 64 districts of Bangladesh, addressing a hereditary blood disorder affecting an estimated 12% of the population as carriers, with 13,000 new births annually. BTF supplements clinical care with prevention programs including pre-marital screening, awareness campaigns, and an annual National Workshop on Clinical Management of Thalassemia developed in coordination with the Directorate of Health Services and seven medical societies.

The organization's revenue model is entirely donation-dependent, drawing on individual contributions, a dedicated Zakat fund (Islamic charitable donations collected during Ramadan, governed by a dedicated committee including patients, guardians, doctors, and religious scholars), a Poor Fund for underprivileged patients, and a Sponsor a Child subscription program at 5,000–15,000 BDT per month per child under yearly, half-yearly, quarterly, or monthly cadences. Donation infrastructure spans 20+ commercial and Islamic bank partnerships plus mobile financial services (bKash, Nagad, Rocket, Upay, Tap, Pathao Pay). Operating technology consists of a Donor Management System, blood bank operations, Google Analytics, and Mailchimp for donor communications; no AI/ML, predictive analytics, or proprietary clinical technology is disclosed. The foundation is registered with the Social Welfare Department of Bangladesh (Registration# Dha-07055, June 23, 2002), and all donations carry tax exemption status.

BTF is governed by a board led by Chairman Professor Dr. Manzur Morshed, Vice-Chairman Professor Dr. Syeda Masooma Rahman, and Secretary General Dr. Mohammad Abdur Rahim. Strategic alliances include a 2018 co-organization of the National Workshop on Clinical Management of Thalassemia with the Directorate of Health Services' Non-communicable Disease Control Program, and endorsements from the Paediatric Haematology and Oncology Society of Bangladesh (PHOSB), Bangladesh Society of Medicine (BSM), Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society of Bangladesh (OGSB), and others. In 2026, BTF was recognized by BRAC Bank PLC as a 'Most Impactful Institution' for outstanding contributions to healthcare access in Bangladesh.

Name

Bangladesh Thalassemia Foundation

Legal name

Bangladesh Thalassemia Foundation

Website

https://thals.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Bangladesh Thalassemia Foundation is a Dhaka-based non-profit operating Bangladesh's only specialized 20-bed thalassemia hospital and treat 7,800 patients nationwide. It funds treatment primarily through donations, Ramadan Zakat collections, and child sponsorships at 5,000–15,000 BDT per month.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Thalassemia Specialty Healthcare Services

NAICS

Blood and Organ Banks (621991), Medical Laboratories (621511)

SIC

Services-Hospitals (8060), Services-Medical Laboratories (8071)

akta.pro primary industry

Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS) (BPAGACAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Blood Bank, Transfusion Medicine & Immunohematology (HLAHAAAH)

Keywords

• Thalassemia treatment services
• Blood transfusion services
• Hereditary disease prevention
• Non-profit healthcare
• Charitable medical care

Headquarters

HQ city

Dhaka

HQ country

Bangladesh

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The foundation relies entirely on donations from individuals, organizations, and Islamic Zakat contributions during Ramadan to fund patient treatment and operations.
2. Zakat Fund: Collection of Islamic Zakat donations during Ramadan to support poor Muslim patients with life-saving treatments. Managed by a dedicated Zakat committee with representatives from patients, guardians, doctors, nurses, and religious scholars.
3. Child Sponsorship Program: Monthly treatment costs of 5,000 to 15,000 BDT covered through individual child sponsorships, allowing donors to support specific thalassemia patients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Bangladesh Thalassemia Foundation operates a specialized 20-bed Thalassemia Foundation Hospital in Shantinagar, Dhaka, delivering comprehensive thalassemia treatment — blood transfusions, specialist consultations, iron chelation medicines, and laboratory diagnostics — to approximately 7,800 patients from all 64 districts of Bangladesh. It also runs a Thalassemia Blood Bank, multiple charitable assistance programs (Zakat Fund, Poor Fund, Sponsor a Child), awareness and prevention campaigns including pre-marital screening, and the National Workshop on Clinical Management of Thalassemia for healthcare professionals.

Product overview

Bangladesh Thalassemia Foundation operates as a nonprofit organization focused on thalassemia prevention and treatment in Bangladesh. The organization provides a unified service portfolio centered on its 20-bed specialized Thalassemia Foundation Hospital in Dhaka, complemented by multiple support programs including a Zakat Fund for poor patient treatment, a Poor Fund for financial assistance, and a Sponsor a Child program. The organization also operates a Donor Management System and Blood Bank Services to ensure sustainable blood supply for patients. Additionally, it conducts annual professional workshops on clinical management of thalassemia. The organization treats approximately 7,800 patients from 64 districts and was established in 2002, with Social Welfare Department registration Dha-07055.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Thalassemia Foundation Hospital: A specialized 20-bed hospital in Shantinagar, Dhaka providing comprehensive thalassemia treatment including blood transfusion, specialist consultation, iron chelator medicines and laboratory tests.

Products and services

• Thalassemia Foundation Hospital Specialized 20-bed hospital situated in Shantinagar, Dhaka providing comprehensive thalassemia treatment including blood transfusion, specialist consultation, iron chelation medicines, and laboratory tests as a one-stop service. Currently treats 7,800 thalassemia patients from all 64 districts of Bangladesh.
• Blood Bank Services Blood donor registration and blood bank services for thalassemia patients who require 1–2 bags of blood every month to survive. Approximately 7,800 patients are registered, requiring 100–120 bags of blood daily.
• Donor Management System Online platform for donor registration, management, and donation processing including blood donor registration and ongoing donor engagement for Bangladesh Thalassemia Foundation.
• Sponsor a Child Program Child sponsorship program allowing donors to support specific thalassemia patients with monthly treatment costs ranging from 5,000 to 15,000 BDT. Sponsors can choose preferred child gender and age group, with billing available Yearly, Half Yearly, Quarterly, or Monthly.
• Zakat Fund Program Islamic charity program collecting Zakat donations during Ramadan to support poor thalassemia patients with life-saving treatments. The fund is governed by a dedicated Zakat management committee including patients, guardians, doctors, nurses, and religious scholars. In 2023, 1,614 patients received treatment from the Zakat fund.
• Poor Fund Financial assistance program for underprivileged thalassemia patients who cannot afford sufficient treatment costs, supported by dedicated Poor Fund donations.
• National Workshop on Clinical Management of Thalassemia Annual professional workshop providing training to healthcare professionals on clinical management of thalassemia following international guidelines. Held at Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons Auditorium, Dhaka, covering pathophysiology, diagnosis, blood transfusion, iron chelation, and prevention.

Quantifiable outcome

• 7,800 thalassemia patients currently being treated
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Non-communicable Disease Control Program, Directorate of Health ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 November 2018Co-organized the National Workshop on Clinical Management of Thalassemia on November 11, 2018, aiming to standardize thalassemia management practices in Bangladesh through the application of international guidelines.
• Paediatric Haematology and Oncology Society of Bangladesh (PHOSB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 November 2018Endorsed the National Workshop on Clinical Management of Thalassemia, supporting the development of standardized clinical guidelines for thalassemia treatment.
• Bangladesh Society of Medicine (BSM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 November 2018Endorsed the National Workshop on Clinical Management of Thalassemia.
• Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society of Bangladesh (OGSB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 November 2018Endorsed the National Workshop on Clinical Management of Thalassemia.
• Feto-Maternal Medicine Society of BangladeshcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 November 2018Endorsed the National Workshop on Clinical Management of Thalassemia.
• Blood Transfusion Society of Bangladesh (BTSB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 November 2018Endorsed the National Workshop on Clinical Management of Thalassemia.
• Bangladesh Thalassemia Samity HospitalminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 November 2018Supported the National Workshop on Clinical Management of Thalassemia.
• Lab One Foundation of Thalassemia (LOFT)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 November 2018Supported the National Workshop on Clinical Management of Thalassemia.
• SandhaniminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 November 2018Supported the National Workshop on Clinical Management of Thalassemia.
• 20+ Commercial and Islamic BankscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBanking partnerships for receiving donations including AB Bank, BRAC Bank, Dutch-Bangla Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, Islami Bank Bangladesh, and 15+ others. Dedicated accounts for Zakat Fund, Poor Fund, and General Donation.
• Mobile Financial Services (bKash, Nagad, Rocket, Upay, Tap)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMobile banking partnerships for convenient donation collection including bKash Merchant Account (01729284257), Nagad, Rocket, Upay, and Tap for Zakat and general donations.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Bangladesh Red Crescent Society: Largest humanitarian organization in Bangladesh operating blood banks, hospital services, and donor mobilization — comparable in mission scale, blood-bank operations, and Bangladesh fundraising channels.
• Sandhani: Bangladesh-based voluntary blood donor organization founded by medical students, providing donor recruitment and blood bank support — directly comparable in blood donor mobilization and Bangladesh healthcare nonprofit context.
• Thalassemia Society of India: Indian national nonprofit working on thalassemia prevention, screening, and patient welfare — operates in the same South Asian disease-prevention context but in a different national jurisdiction with different regulatory and funding dynamics.

Broad incumbents

• BRAC: Largest development NGO in Bangladesh with broad health, education, and microfinance programs including blood donation and disease-specific community health — operates at vastly greater scale and breadth, often partnering with or competing for the same donor base.
• Aga Khan Foundation: International development foundation with health programs across South Asia including disease prevention, hospital networks, and community health — operates at broader geographic and programmatic scale but intersects on hereditary disease and rural health delivery.

Direct peers

• Thalassemia Foundation of Canada: Canadian national nonprofit supporting thalassemia patients with education, blood disorder programs, and treatment advocacy — directly comparable single-disease patient-support model.
• Cooley's Anemia Foundation: US-based nonprofit focused exclusively on thalassemia (Cooley's anemia) patient support, research funding, and awareness — directly comparable mission and disease-specific nonprofit model to Bangladesh Thalassemia Foundation.
• Thalassemia International Federation: Global umbrella organization dedicated to thalassemia prevention, patient rights, and clinical standards across 60+ countries — operates at a larger geographic scale but mirrors the foundation's mission around awareness, treatment access, and guideline-setting.
• CureSearch for Children's Cancer: US-based nonprofit funding childhood cancer research and patient support — analogous disease-specific, child-focused health nonprofit model with similar donation-driven revenue structure and patient-outcome focus.
• UK Thalassaemia Society: UK-based patient organization supporting thalassemia patients and families with advocacy, screening programs, and clinical education — closely comparable single-disease nonprofit mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thalfoundation
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCMkUbQImyxoqPUZh-8J2b-Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/ThalFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bangladesh-thalassemia-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/thalfoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Bangladesh Thalassemia Foundation