It is believed that the tribal people, who constitute 8.6 per cent of the total 
population (2011 census of India), are the original inhabitants of India. 
Glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is an X-linked genetic 
defect, affecting around 400 million people worldwide and is characterized by 
considerable biochemical and molecular heterogeneity. Deficiency of this enzyme 
is highly polymorphic in those areas where malaria is/has been endemic. G6PD 
deficiency was reported from India more than 50 years ago. t0 he prevalence 
varies from 2.3 to 27.0 per cent with an overall prevalence of 7.7 per cent in 
different tribal groups. Since the tribal populations live in remote areas where 
malaria is/has been endemic, irrational use of antimalarial drugs could result 
in an increased number of cases with drug induced haemolysis. Therefore, before 
giving antimalarial therapy, routine screening for G6PD deficiency should be 
undertaken in those tribal communities where its prevalence is high.