Punjab Makes Thalassemia Testing Mandatory for Student Admissions

LAHORE: In Punjab, individuals applying for enrollment in educational institutions, spanning from schools and colleges to religious seminaries, will now be obligated to undergo screenings for thalassemia and various other inherited disorders.

This requirement is part of the Thalassemia Prevention Act 2025, recently approved by the Punjab Assembly. The law is applicable to all educational institutions, both public and private.

Beta Thalassaemia is the most prevalent genetic condition in Pakistan, with a gene prevalence rate approximating 6%. This indicates that about 6% of the Pakistani population carries this mutant gene.

Given Pakistan’s population of over 220 million, roughly 13.2 million citizens are healthy carriers of the defective beta thalassemia gene. The cultural practice of marriages within families in Pakistan has contributed to a rise in the number of children affected by thalassemia, thus posing a considerable public health concern.

According to the newly enacted legislation, students must provide medical test results alongside their admission applications. This legislative measure is designed to diminish the proliferation of hereditary diseases via timely identification and increased public knowledge.

The legislation also mandates stringent confidentiality protocols, including penalties for the unauthorized disclosure of a student’s medical details.

Furthermore, the government will offer complimentary testing services to students from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds and counseling services to those diagnosed with any such conditions.

The proposed law will now be submitted to the Governor of Punjab for final endorsement before its full implementation.

Earlier, on April 13, the provincial Health Minister, Khawaja Salman Rafique, noted that Iran and various other Muslim nations have implemented enduring strategies regarding this issue. He stated, “We must conduct an intensive campaign to prevent thalassemia within the community.”

He further stated that the Punjab government is undertaking all feasible actions to enhance the standard of medical education. A thriving society is based on the foundations of education and health, with the provision of optimal health services to the populace being the government’s fundamental responsibility.