Federal Minister for Health Mustafa Kamal has said that legislation is need of the hour for a mandatory blood test for the groom before marriage. If the groom's thalassemia test comes back positive, the bride should also be tested, reported 24NewsHDTV Channel.
The Health Minister was speaking at a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Health. The meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Health was held under the chairmanship of Dr. Mahesh Kumar Malani. Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal and Health Secretary Nadeem Mehboob attended the meeting.
The meeting discussed the PMDC Amendment Bill 2024. The amendment bill was presented by Member of National Assembly Shaista Pervez. Sharmila Farooqui, while expressing her opinion on the bill to conduct a blood test of the bride and groom before marriage, which was on the agenda in the meeting, said that the approval of the bill is necessary to prevent thalassemia.
Health Minister Mustafa Kamal by agreeing with Sharmila Farooqui's position, said this law is desperately needed and Health Ministry will provide full support. He said law should include a mandatory blood test for the groom before marriage, and if the groom's thalassemia test comes out positive, the bride should also be tested.
Later, in the meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Health, after a thorough discussion on the bill regarding the mandatory thalassemia test of the bride and groom before marriage, the committee agreed that the bill should be approved soon.
The meeting discussed matters including the Nursing Council, the degree of the President of the Nursing Council, and other matters. Federal Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal said that currently there is a demand for 2.5 million nurses worldwide, and there is a shortage of 900,000 nurses in Pakistan as well.
Kamal said the government will have to focus on nursing education and training as a matter of urgency. He assured to resolve all issues including the injunction order of the Nursing Council. During the meeting, PTI member Dr. Amjad said that a large private hospital charges Rs 2.5 lakh for ICU, and this issue has been left open.
He said that 4 months ago, a patient went from PIMS to a private hospital and was turned away due to lack of money. He said that 3 major private hospitals in Islamabad are built on concessional government plots but do not give concessions to patients. On this occasion, the chairman of the committee emphasized that there should be a welfare system in private hospitals as well.
Reporter Babar Shahzad Turk