ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): The National Assembly has passed the Mandatory Thalassemia Screening Bill 2025, which requires couples to complete thalassemia testing before they can marry.
The legislation aims to prevent the spread of thalassemia in Pakistan and protect future generations from this hereditary blood disorder. The new law requires both future spouses to complete a thalassemia examination before they can proceed with their marriage registration process.
The legal system imposes severe punishment for anyone who breaches this law. Marriage registrars who allow marriages without valid thalassemia test reports will face license cancellation and a fine of Rs. 100,000.
Dr. Sharmila Farooqi, who represents the Pakistan Peoples Party in the National Assembly, presented the bill, which received majority support for approval. Dr. Farooqi stated that the new law will reduce thalassemia spread by increasing public understanding of the disease across Pakistan.
What is Thalassemia?
High rates of consanguineous (cousin) marriages drive the prevalence, overwhelming the healthcare system with over 100,000+ active patients.
Current Status of Thalassemia in Pakistan
Pakistan is among the highest thalassemia burden countries in the world. The commonly quoted figure for the country is 100,000 transfusion-dependent thalassemia patients.
In the absence of a coherent national policy and strategic plan, the number of thalassemics in the country is believed to be increasing, but the exact burden of the disease is unknown.
As a result, despite being a preventable blood disorder, thalassemia in Pakistan continues to increase in number and causes misery to the patients and their families.
In addition, it also creates a heavy burden on the already resource-constrained and stretched national health-care system, particularly the blood transfusion system. A significant proportion of the blood transfusions carried out in Pakistan are used for thalassemia patients, but the exact figures also remain unknown.
