Health Ministry reports 58,428 Form Four students detected as thalassemia carriers since 2016, with screening reducing new birth rates.
PUTRAJAYA: A total of 58,428 Form Four students screened since 2016 have been identified as thalassemia carriers according to Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
He stated that these carriers are part of 1.8 million students who underwent screening with parental or guardian consent.
“We have implemented this thalassemia screening since 2016, focusing on 16-year-olds after the Education Ministry granted its approval to the 3K Main Committee.”
“It’s important for us to mention that this screening is carried out for Form Four students or through the outreach programme in schools,” he told reporters after officiating the 2nd National Conference for Thalassaemic and Carers 2025.
Dzulkefly confirmed that the thalassemia screening programme has consistently reduced rates of new thalassemia births.
“This makes it very clear that it is a method that achieves good health outcomes because the effect of this screening is to discourage marriages between carriers.”
He added that screening increases public awareness of thalassemia status and helps individuals make suitable partner choices.
“We carry out screening and conduct several counselling sessions so that they know that they must avoid having partners who are also thalassemia carriers.”
Earlier in his speech, Dzulkefly announced the Ministry of Health aims to reduce new thalassaemia births by at least 50% within the next decade through expanded premarital and antenatal screening.
“The MOH is enhancing the digital integration of screening data within the national health system to improve accuracy and follow-up efficiency, while developing a National Thalassaemia Risk Dashboard to map high-risk districts and guide targeted awareness programmes.”
He added that the MyThalassaemia Registry is building a national picture of disease burden and outcomes to support future clinical research and precision medicine initiatives.
“We are also exploring collaboration with the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development and the Ministry of Human Resources to improve welfare access and flexible work options for long-term caregivers.” – Bernama
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