An 11-month-old baby, Punarvika from Andhra Pradesh, has been given a new lease of life after ₹16 crore was raised for her life-saving Zolgensma injection to treat Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). The nationwide fundraising effort, supported by the public, social media influencers, and government assistance under the National Policy for Rare Diseases (NPRD), helped secure treatment. Her father has now requested donors to stop further contributions, confirming that the required funds have been arranged.

The Disease: What Is Spinal Muscular Atrophy?

Doctors diagnosed Punarvika with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) — a rare genetic disorder that:

Damages motor neurons in the spinal cord
Causes severe muscle weakness
Affects breathing and mobility
Can become life-threatening without early treatment

The only recommended treatment was Zolgensma, a one-time gene therapy injection costing approximately ₹16 crore — an amount far beyond the reach of an ordinary family.

The Family’s Struggle

Punarvika was born on May 12, 2025, in Veldurthi, Kurnool district, to Suresh Kumar and Pushpavathi. When the baby failed to show normal movement milestones, medical evaluations in Kurnool and Hyderabad confirmed the SMA diagnosis.

Faced with overwhelming medical costs, her parents turned to social media for help — triggering an unprecedented wave of public support across the Telugu states.

Government & Public Support

The movement gained momentum after Nandyal MP Byreddy Sabari intervened following a representation at her Praja Darbar.

Key developments:

Financial assistance of ₹50 lakh sanctioned
Support extended under the National Policy for Rare Diseases (NPRD)
Coordination with Union Health authorities
Massive public crowdfunding contributions

The MP emphasized that public health remains a priority and assured continued support to the family.

“Stop Donations,” Says Father

In an emotional video message, Punarvika’s father announced:

Required funds have been successfully arranged
Donors are requested to stop further contributions
Gratitude expressed to thousands who supported the cause

The collective effort of citizens, influencers, and policymakers turned what seemed impossible into reality.

Key Entities

Byreddy Sabari – Member of Parliament, Nandyal
National Policy for Rare Diseases (NPRD) – Government of India rare disease funding framework
Zolgensma – Gene therapy treatment for SMA
Punarvika – SMA patient from Kurnool district

Final Verdict

The successful fundraising for Punarvika’s ₹16 crore SMA treatment stands as a powerful example of collective compassion and digital-era mobilization. With support from the public and government assistance under NPRD, a life-threatening diagnosis turned into a story of hope. The case underscores the urgent need for rare disease funding frameworks while highlighting how unity can overcome even the most daunting medical challenges.