Federal Minister for Health, Mustafa Kamal, has emphasized the urgent need for legislation mandating blood tests for grooms before marriage.
According to Kamal, if a groom’s thalassemia test is positive, the bride should also undergo testing to prevent the spread of the condition.
The Health Minister made these remarks during a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Health, which was chaired by Dr. Mahesh Kumar Malani. The meeting was attended by Health Minister Mustafa Kamal, Health Secretary Nadeem Mehboob, and other officials.
One of the key items discussed during the session was the PMDC Amendment Bill 2024. The bill, introduced by MNA Shaista Pervez, aims to address the issue of thalassemia by ensuring both grooms and brides undergo mandatory blood tests before marriage. Sharmila Farooqui, in support of the bill, stressed that its approval is essential to prevent the genetic disorder.
Minister Kamal agreed with Farooqui’s stance, highlighting the necessity of such legislation. He assured the committee that the Ministry of Health would fully support the bill and emphasized that it should include a compulsory blood test for the groom. If the groom’s test results are positive for thalassemia, the bride should also undergo a test.
Following extensive discussions, the committee reached a consensus on the importance of the bill, agreeing that it should be approved soon to help prevent thalassemia in future generations.
In addition to thalassemia testing, the committee also discussed issues related to nursing education, the establishment of a Nursing Council, and the shortage of nurses in Pakistan. Minister Kamal revealed that globally, there is a demand for 2.5 million nurses, with Pakistan facing a shortfall of approximately 900,000 nurses. He stressed that the government must urgently address this issue by improving nursing education and training.
During the meeting, PTI member Dr. Amjad raised concerns about the high cost of ICU charges in private hospitals, with some hospitals charging as much as Rs 2.5 lakh. This matter was left open for further discussion.
