Kurdistan Region orders free testing and treatment for thalassemia patients

ERBIL — Health authorities in the Kurdistan Region have mandated that all public hospitals and medical centers offer free testing and treatment for thalassemia, a hereditary blood disorder that requires lifelong care.

The Ministry of Health issued a directive this week to health departments across all governorates and autonomous administrations, ordering the immediate implementation of the policy.

“This service will be available free of charge at all hospitals and centers, including cardiology, radiology, and both morning and evening outpatient clinics,” the ministry stated in an official letter.

Thalassemia is a genetic condition that impairs the body’s ability to produce hemoglobin, leading to chronic anemia. Treatment typically involves frequent blood transfusions and iron chelation therapy—procedures that can impose a heavy financial burden on patients and their families.

While public health care in the Kurdistan Region is largely subsidized, patients often face out-of-pocket expenses, particularly for diagnostic services such as cardiology and radiology. These costs tend to rise during evening clinic hours, when services may be partially privatized or operate with reduced government support, limiting access for lower-income families.

According to ministry data, there are approximately 3,300 registered thalassemia patients across the region. In Erbil alone, 1,156 patients are receiving care, including many internally displaced persons. In Sulaimani, Halabja, and the Garmiyan administration, 1,387 patients are currently registered. Another 1,000 cases have been reported in Duhok and Akre.