On Monday, the Parliament approved Government-proposed amendments to the Thalassaemia Control Act, aimed at streamlining service delivery and strengthening national thalassaemia prevention efforts.

The bill passed with the support of 49 lawmakers and has now been referred to the Parliamentary Committee on Social Affairs for review.

A key component of the amendments is the revision of eligibility criteria and a clearer definition of the responsibilities of the Director General of the Thalassaemia and Haemoglobinopathies Centre. These adjustments, along with other proposed reforms, will undergo further evaluation by the Social Affairs Committee.

Introduced by Ihavandhoo MP Ahmed Naseer on behalf of the Government, the legislative changes also seek to standardise the appointment process for the Director General. Under the proposed framework, the role will be formally recognised as a civil service position, with appointments made by the Civil Service Commission based on recommendations from the Health Minister.

To qualify for the position, candidates must hold a Level 8 or Level 9 qualification in a management-related field and possess at least ten years of experience in the health sector. The term of service for the Director General has been set at five years, with the revised law also outlining the specific terms and conditions attached to the role.

Beyond administrative reforms, the amendments introduce a significant new provision addressing genetic screening in the context of marriage. While the current Act encourages voluntary testing for thalassaemia, it does not provide guidance on how such results should impact marriage procedures.

Under the new proposal, if couples applying for a marriage licence are identified as carriers and still wish to marry, they must first complete a specially designed programme. This programme must meet criteria established by forthcoming regulations under the Act.

These regulations are expected to be finalised and publicly released within 30 days of the amendments coming into effect.