The Electronic Public Participation Portal “Tawasal” has published the Premarital Medical Examination Regulation for the year 2026.
According to the portal’s website, the amendment to the premarital medical examination regulation comes as part of efforts to strengthen the preventive approach in public health and to limit the spread of certain hereditary diseases, such as thalassemia and sickle cell anemia.
اضافة اعلان
The consultation period on the regulation will run from February 1 to February 19, 2026.
The website stated that the amendment aims to enhance preventive measures to curb the spread of hereditary diseases, including thalassemia and sickle cell anemia, as well as to activate the role of genetic counseling centers due to their importance in disease prevention.
The regulation also aims to regulate and unify the mechanism of premarital medical examinations.
Under the regulation, the minister is authorized to determine the service fee for conducting the medical examination referred to in paragraph (a) of this article, which stipulates that the authority responsible for conducting the marriage contract, prior to its documentation, must obligate both parties to undergo the medical examination at a laboratory and to visit the center to obtain the required form to complete the marriage contract.
The text of the regulation is as follows:
Article (1)
This regulation shall be called the “Premarital Medical Examination Regulation for the Year 2026” and shall enter into force ninety days after the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
Article (2)
The following words and phrases, wherever they appear in this regulation, shall have the meanings assigned to them below, unless the context indicates otherwise:
Ministry: Ministry of Health.
Minister: Minister of Health.
Thalassemia: Mediterranean anemia; for the purposes of this regulation, it refers to beta thalassemia.
Medical examination: Laboratory testing for thalassemia and sickle cell anemia, and any other examination approved by the minister.
Laboratory: Any laboratory approved by the minister to conduct the medical examination.
Center: A health center affiliated with the ministry and approved by the minister to assess the medical examination results and take the necessary measures to complete the marriage contract.
Counseling center: Centers approved by the minister to provide genetic counseling to individuals intending to marry, referred by the center.
Form: Forms used to implement the provisions of this regulation.
Compatible result: Compatibility of the premarital medical examination (i.e., the medical examination result of one or both engaged parties is sound).
Incompatible result: Non-compatibility of the premarital medical examination.
Article (3)
a. The authority responsible for conducting the marriage contract, prior to its documentation, shall obligate both parties to undergo the medical examination at the laboratory and to visit the center to obtain the required form to complete the marriage contract.
b. If the result is compatible, the engaged couple shall be granted a form to complete the marriage contract; in the event of non-compatibility, they shall be referred to a counseling center.
c. At the counseling center, the engaged couple shall be informed of the consequences of proceeding with the marriage and the probabilities of children being affected by thalassemia and/or sickle cell anemia, including potential rates and expected complications, and they shall sign the approved forms for this purpose.
d. The attendance of the engaged couple or their legal representatives before the center’s physician shall not be required if the result is compatible, provided that they are supplied with the results.
e. If the result is incompatible, the engaged couple must attend a genetic counseling session in person at the counseling center. If one of the engaged parties is unable to attend due to being outside the country, communication may take place through available electronic means.
f. The minister shall have the right to determine the service fee for conducting the medical examination referred to in paragraph (a) of this article.
g. No fees or charges shall be collected for issuing the form referred to in paragraph (a) of this article.
Article (4)
Medical examination procedures shall be considered confidential, and anyone with access to them must maintain complete confidentiality regarding the contents of the forms, under penalty of legal accountability.
Article (5)
Any person who violates the provisions of this regulation shall be subject to the penalties stipulated in the Public Health Law.
Article (6)
The minister shall issue the necessary instructions for implementing the provisions of this regulation, including:
a. Approving laboratories, centers, and counseling centers.
b. Issuing the forms related to premarital medical examination results.
Article (7)
The Premarital Medical Examination Regulation No. (83) of 2015 shall be repealed, provided that the instructions issued pursuant thereto shall remain in force until replaced in accordance with the provisions of this regulation.
Al-Mamlaka
