The Punjab Assembly has passed the Thalassaemia Prevention Act 2025, making it compulsory for students to undergo thalassaemia and other genetic disorder screenings at the time of admission to all schools, colleges, and religious seminaries across the province, Express News reported.
The newly enacted law aims to curb the spread of genetic diseases and reduce the long-term medical and economic burden on the healthcare system. According to the legislation, test results must be submitted with admission forms to the respective education boards.
An advisory council will be formed under the Act to ensure timely diagnosis and effective management of such conditions. The law also includes mandatory data reporting by laboratories within 10 days to the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB), which will develop a secure database for all test results.
The Act strictly prohibits unauthorised sharing of confidential medical data, warning that violators—including private laboratory staff—could face prosecution under the Pakistan Penal Code for forging results or leaking information.
“NADRA will soon coordinate with provincial authorities to create a special registry for affected individuals,” the text of the bill states, adding that free testing will be made available for students from low-income families.
In cases where students test positive for genetic conditions, counselling will be provided to guide them and their families. The law takes immediate effect and applies to all public and private educational institutions across Punjab. The bill will now be presented to the Governor of Punjab for final approval.
