The Premarital Screening Program has achieved a healthy marriage rate in the Eastern Province of more than 99%, keeping future offspring safe from genetic diseases including hereditary blood diseases such as Sickle cell anemia and thalassemia. 26979 laboratory tests were conducted for couples wishing to get married. These tests were conducted in 8 centers for couples that are to be married in the Eastern Province, in 2020.
Noteworthy, the total number of cases of genetic incompatibility reached 623. Doctors at Counseling Clinics have provided advice to 519 cases who were convinced not to go through with the marriage. This means that 83.3% of the total cases have shown genetic incompatibility. The program gives couples the freedom to consummate their marriages after they are provided with medical advice, without taking the genetic screening into consideration.
It is worth noting that at the beginning of 2021, the program was included in an electronic platform that allows the Ministry of Justice to view the screening certificate without having to print it, as a certificate issuance message is sent to the couple. A marriage officer can view the certificate through the national identities of the couple.
In the same context, several additional government health centers are currently being chosen to receive and withdraw test samples for those wishing to get married. The aim is to facilitate access to this service and allow couples to obtain their results in a record time of no more than 5 business days.