New measures approved regarding Thalassemia Control Act

The Parliament has approved changes to the Thalassemia Control Act, which includes new guidelines for the selection criteria of the Thalassemia Centre's Director General and rules related to marriage between those at risk of having thalassemia-affected offspring.

The legislation, introduced by MP Ahmed Naseer, received approval from 60 voting members who supported it.

The modifications aim to evaluate the standards for the Director General position at the Thalassemia and Hemoglobinopathies Centre and to legally outline the responsibilities and obligations associated with the role. The amendment additionally outlines the regulations for the marriage of individuals who may have children with thalassemia.

As per the suggested revision to the Thalassemia Control Act, the position of Director General of the Thalassemia Centre will be classified as a civil service role. The Civil Service Commission will make the appointment based on the Minister’s recommendation. Candidates must possess at least a Level 8 or 9 qualification in management according to the National Qualifications Framework and have 10 years of experience in the healthcare field.

The appointment of the Director General of the Thalassemia Centre can be for a five-year term, with the criteria for the position outlined in the suggested legal amendment.

The government has included a clause in the Act regarding the marriage of thalassemia carriers who may have children with thalassemia. At present, the legislation lacks a specific provision regarding these marriages, but includes a clause on voluntary thalassemia testing.

The recently suggested regulation requires couples to present their thalassemia test results when applying for a marriage license. If the couple is viewed as eligible to have children despite the potential risk of transmitting the thalassemia gene, a marriage license will only be issued after they finish a program specifically designed to fulfill the criteria of a regulation enacted under the law.

As per the amendments, the government must create and release new regulations concerning the changes within 30 days of the amendment taking effect.