To curb thalassaemia Health minister backs mandatory pre-marriage screening

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ISLAMABAD: Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal has strongly supported the proposed law that requires a marital blood screening to prevent thalassemia. Under this legislation, grooms will need blood tests, and if they do a positive test, their brides will also be screened to determine the risk of transmitting the disease to their offspring.

Addressing the National Assembly Standing Committee on National Health Services, the Minister stressed the urgent need of such a law in the federal jurisdiction of Islamabad, promising full support from the Ministry of Health. “If we approve this law, we can prevent countless children from being born with this catastrophic disease,” Kamal said. He agreed with the Bill’s supporter, MNA Sharmila Farooki, that both partners should start with the groom and go through the test. If the bridegroom is found, the bride should also be tested.

Initially, the bill has been transferred through MNA Shysta Puzoz, aimed at ensuring the growing matters of thalassemia that the couple are aware of their genetic risks before marriage. Committee Chairman Dr Mahesh Kumar Milani directed that the draft bill should be presented to the committee and the Ministry of Law before the next meeting.

Beyond the Thalassemia Bill, the committee meeting covered several important health issues, including the alleged mismanagement by the Pakistan Nursing and Midwifery Council (PN&MC). Several members of the committee expressed disappointment over the leadership of the council, MNA Agha Rafifullah claimed that he had faced false accusations and threats after raising concerns about PN & MC operations. The members, giving remarks, said, “The PN & MC has turned the parliament into a joke,” alleged that the council had approved illegal nursing colleges and misused its authority. MNA Aaliyah Kamran stated that the lawmakers who questioned the leadership of the council were subjected to threats, including threatening phone calls.

The federal health made the committee the prime minister to personally investigate the matter. “I can be new to that position, but I apologize to all the members of the committee for their mismanagement,” he said. I will make sure that the truth has been exposed. ” He also acknowledged the shortage of about 900,000 nurses in Pakistan, emphasizing that the country’s nursing education should be free from corruption and incompetence. The dispute around the Nursing Council increased when it was revealed that the President of the Council had obtained a degree from a foreign institution through the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan. The Minister confirmed that the Ministry of Health had contacted the HEC for verification and had received a written confirmation that the degree was not correct. Kamal stressed, “I will not be silent on this matter. Legal action will be pursued.”

The meeting also addressed the complaints of doctors from the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), who approached the Senate Standing Committee against their executive director. Secretary Nadeem Mehboob has reported that an inquiry has been made, but doctors disagreed with the results. The committee demanded clarification on why disciplinary action was not taken.

Other matters include the rules of private medical colleges, especially their high fee and limited efforts for the students who take the National Registration Exam (NRE). The committee called on the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) to submit their recommendations on these issues at the next meeting.

In addition, the Pakistan National Heart Association (PANAH) told the committee about non -communication diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, especially in underage populations. The members essentially introduced the Front of Pack Warning Label to discuss tax on sugar drinks and unhealthy meals. The Ministry of Health was instructed to cooperate with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and the Ministry of Science and Technology to develop a policy on these measures.