The thalassemia gene was discovered in 1978, and in 1991 the Department of Health promoted thalassemia screening for pregnant women. It is estimated that more than 1000 screening tests are conducted in Taiwan every year.
海洋性貧血的基因在一九七八年就已經找到，衛生署在一九九一年推動孕婦海洋性貧血篩檢，估計國內每年約篩檢一千多名個案。