AP Minister Nara Lokesh Celebrates Successful Administration of ₹16 Crore Injection to baby Punarvika

Hyderabad: In a heartening development for medical science and human resilience, a 14-month-old baby girl named Punarvika was today administered Zolgensma, one of the world’s most expensive drugs, at Rainbow Children’s Hospital in Hyderabad.

The news was shared by Andhra Pradesh Minister for IT, Electronics, and HRD, Nara Lokesh, who has been closely following the child’s journey. Punarvika, who hails from a middle-class family in Andhra Pradesh, was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Type 1, a rare and life-threatening genetic disorder.

SMA Type 1 is a severe condition that affects the motor neurons in the spinal cord, leading to progressive muscle wasting and, if left untreated, respiratory failure before the age of two. The only definitive cure is Zolgensma, a single-dose gene therapy manufactured by Novartis, which carries a staggering price tag of approximately ₹16 crore.

Minister Nara Lokesh expressed his joy on social media, congratulating the medical team and the family. “Extremely happy to share that little Punarvika has been administered the Zolgensma injection today. This is a victory of collective effort and the will to save a life,” Lokesh stated.

The administration of the drug marks the culmination of an intensive months-long crowdfunding campaign. Punarvika’s parents had reached out to the public, NGOs, and political leaders to bridge the massive financial gap. Thousands of donors contributed through online platforms to raise the majority of the funds.

Reports indicate that the family had also sought a waiver of the nearly ₹6 crore import duty and GST typically levied on the drug, a request often supported by state and central leadership in such rare “compassionate use” cases.

A specialized team of pediatric neurologists at Rainbow Children’s Hospital, Banjara Hills, performed the infusion today. The procedure involves replacing the missing or malfunctioning SMN1 gene with a functional copy, effectively halting the progression of the disease.

“The baby is currently stable and under observation. The administration went smoothly, and we are optimistic about her motor development milestones in the coming months,” a senior hospital official confirmed.

Minister Lokesh has been a vocal advocate for creating a more robust support system for children with rare diseases in Andhra Pradesh. In his message today, he reiterated the government’s commitment to exploring long-term solutions for SMA patients, including earlier screening and subsidized access to life-saving drugs.

The successful treatment of Punarvika has sparked a wave of positivity across social media, with many hailing the “power of the people” in raising such a monumental sum to give a toddler a second lease on life. Punarvika is expected to remain in the hospital for a few days for post-infusion monitoring before returning home to begin her recovery journey.