Maharashtra will soon mandate thalassemia testing before marriage to help eradicate the genetic blood disorder, which currently affects around 12,860 patients in the state. The decision was announced by Minister Meghana Bordikar in response to MLA Vikas Thakre's question in the assembly
Thalassemia is a genetic blood disorder that impairs the body's ability to produce haemoglobin and healthy red blood cells. Representational pic
Maharashtra will soon introduce rules to make thalassemia testing compulsory for individuals before marriage, as part of a wider initiative to eradicate the disease, Minister Meghana Bordikar announced in the state assembly on Thursday.
While responding to a question raised by MLA Vikas Thakre during the Question Hour of the Monsoon Session 2025, the Minister of State for Public Health stated that Maharashtra currently has approximately 12,860 thalassemia patients.
Thalassemia is a genetic blood disorder that impairs the body's ability to produce haemoglobin and healthy red blood cells.
Addressing Thakre's demand for mandatory pre-marital thalassemia testing, Bordikar affirmed, "We will soon frame rules on making the test mandatory before marriage."
"This is a serious genetic disorder, and if not diagnosed in time, it can be passed on to the next generation. We have launched a thalassemia eradication campaign, beginning with a pilot project in Parbhani, which is now being expanded across the state," she explained.
Furthermore, she also assured that thalassemia treatment centres would be established in every district.
Moreover, the minister informed the House that an investigation was underway by the health department commissioner into alleged corruption concerning the procurement of cancer diagnostic vans.
Meanwhile, Speaker Rahul Narwekar directed that the inquiry report be tabled in the assembly before the conclusion of the current session.
The main question was initially raised by Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Bhaskar Jadhav, who alleged that the vans were purchased at double their fair price.
Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar also alleged irregularities in the purchase of cancer diagnostic vans by the state public health department and demanded that the probe report be tabled in the assembly before the end of the ongoing session, according to PTI.
The state government had procured eight cancer diagnostic vans, but according to Wadettiwar, these vehicles were bought at highly inflated prices.
"The cost of one van should not exceed Rs 40 lakh, and the diagnostic equipment inside is not worth more than Rs12 lakh. Despite this, the vans were bought at much higher rates, indicating possible corruption," he claimed.
He also alleged that some of the equipment in these vans was non-functional.
"This is a serious matter involving a life-threatening disease like cancer. There is an ongoing inquiry, but no report has been submitted so far," Wadettiwar stated.
He further emphasised that the inquiry should be completed and its report presented before the House before the end of the current monsoon session.
Responding to the demand, the Speaker directed that the investigation be expedited and the report be submitted in the assembly before the conclusion of the session.
Meanwhile the monsoon session of the state legislature is scheduled to end on 18th July.
(With inputs from PTI)
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