More geneticists needed to detect thalassaemia early

The country needs more geneticists to detect thalassaemia patients at an early stage, said Health Minister Dr Adham Baba.

Adham said this could simultaneously control and prevent thalassaemia among the community, especially with the detection of individuals with the carrier trait. 

‘’Thalassaemia can be prevented if we can detect carriers at an early stage. If these carriers get married, it is possible that some of their children will develop thalassemia. So we do not want this to happen.

"Therefore, we need to produce experts in the field of genetics to detect or prevent carriers from getting married or pregnant. 

"I encourage universities to produce more graduates in genetic studies," he added.

Adham said this after launching the 2019 Malaysia Thalassaemia Registry (MTR) report at Tunku Azizah Hospital in Kuala Lumpur today.

If thalassaemia carriers, including thalassaemia major which is the most severe form of the disease, still want to get married and have a child together, the ministry would provide survival instructions such as stem cell transplant, blood transfusions and bone marrow transplant for a longer lifespan, the minister explained.

Thalassaemia major is a disease caused by genetic factors where red blood cells (haemoglobin) do not function normally and patients need blood transfusions every three or four weeks to ensure that the number of blood cells is at a sufficient level.

He said the ministry was constantly monitoring thalassaemia patients, which included conducting tests to obtain the latest data to assist them in prevention and treatment.

"According to the MTR report, there are 8,178 thalassaemia patients until October 2019 and we use this data to identify and help them use the technological sophistication and innovation available," he added.

Earlier in his speech, Adham said MTR had successfully mapped the geographical distribution for the thalassaemia diagnosed category among the multi-ethnic population in the country as well as helped policymakers in the ministry plan and monitor thalassaemia programmes.

The country's success in thalassaemia treatment, he said, had impacted the increasing cost of medical services, therefore the preventive aspect through screening tests for the detection of thalassaemia carriers needed to be stressed.

"No country can afford to maintain a national programme like this if new thalassaemia birth cases are not curbed as this will result in increased costs in the health sector. Therefore, prevention should be emphasised," he added.

- Bernama