Thalassemia in Guangxi: current situation and future prospects

Guangxi, one of the regions with the highest thalassemia burden worldwide, has a carrier rate of 23.89% in the general population. Over the past 15 years, it has established a government-led, multi-sectoral prevention network based on the principles of "government leadership, multi-department coordination, healthcare sector accountability, integration of medical and preventive services, and public participation." This system has created an integrated "prevention-diagnosis-intervention-management" continuum supported by genetic testing and stem cell transplantation. Therefore, from 2010 to 2024, the birth rate of severe thalassemia decreased by 96.46%, and remained below 0.3 cases per 10,000 newborns for six consecutive years. This marks Guangxi's successful transformation from a high-incidence area to a national demonstration zone. The success of the Guangxi Model stems from a paradigm shift from reactive clinical treatment to proactive public health strategy, deep integration of public health with clinical practice, and continuous technological and systemic innovation. Guangxi's experience demonstrates that even in resource-limited settings, a systematic, multi-tiered strategy can effectively control genetic disorders, offering valuable lessons and a context-dependent reference for high-burden regions worldwide.