Pakistan has launched its first mobile van dedicated to thalassemia to provide accessible screening and care for patients suffering from the genetic blood disorder.Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal said the rising number of thalassemia cases in Pakistan is alarming. He stated that negligence by both the government and society has led to the continued birth of children with the disease.
The minister said that premarital testing should be made mandatory, at least for men. He explained that when two carriers marry, there is a high risk of a child being born with thalassemia major, a severe form of the disorder.
