Can we not have a population-screening program for thalassemia?
Screening for any disease requires considerable inputs on part of the government. Screening the whole population will be expensive. In the present scenario in Pakistan, extended family screening and antenatal screening especially in high-risk communities are best options for prevention and control of thalassemia. In some communities, a b-thalassemia carrier state is considered a stigma. In these cases, screening after marriage is only feasible, though it can also cause marital tensions. Proper pre-test and post-test counseling are important in reducing the psychosocial problems arising from screening.
