Maharashtra is set to introduce regulations making thalassemia testing compulsory before marriage, as part of a broader effort to eliminate the genetic blood disorder from the state, Minister of State for Public Health Meghana Bordikar announced in the Legislative Assembly on Thursday.
The announcement came during the Question Hour of the Monsoon Session 2025, in response to a query raised by Congress MLA Vikas Thakre. Minister Bordikar revealed that the state currently has around 12,860 thalassemia patients.
“Thalassemia is a serious inherited condition that affects haemoglobin production and red blood cell formation. If not detected in time, it can be passed on to the next generation,” the minister said. “We are in the process of framing rules to make pre-marital thalassemia testing mandatory. This initiative is part of a state-wide eradication campaign, which began as a pilot project in Parbhani and is now being expanded to all districts.”
She also assured the House that thalassemia treatment centres will soon be established in every district of Maharashtra.
In a separate development, Minister Bordikar informed the Assembly that the state health department’s commissioner is currently investigating alleged irregularities in the procurement of cancer diagnostic vans.
The issue was initially raised by Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Bhaskar Jadhav, who alleged that the eight vans purchased by the government were procured at nearly double their actual value. Supporting the allegation, Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar claimed that while the cost of each van should not exceed ₹40 lakh—with diagnostic equipment valued around ₹12 lakh—the vehicles were acquired at significantly higher prices, suggesting possible corruption. He further alleged that some of the diagnostic equipment is non-functional.
“This is a serious issue involving a critical disease like cancer,” Wadettiwar stated. “There is an ongoing inquiry, but no report has been presented so far. The findings must be shared with the Assembly before the end of the current session.”
Responding to the demands, Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar directed the government to expedite the investigation and ensure the inquiry report is submitted before the conclusion of the Monsoon Session.