Team Blitz India
MUMBAI: The Indian Council of Medical Research’s National Institute of Reproductive and Child Health (ICMR-NIRRCH) will offer free stateof-the-art genetic testing and counselling services to combat rare diseases in Maharashtra.
With this, the ICMR-NIRRCH Genetic Research Centre has become the first government centre in Maharashtra which will be accepting referrals from prominent civic bodies, Government medical colleges and hospitals in areas around Mumbai.
Rare diseases are typically chronic and progressive medical conditions that pose life-threatening risks to those affected. According to the ministry of health and family welfare, India has 7.2 crore to 9.6 crore patients of rare diseases.
The Centre at present caters to referrals from municipal corporations, government medical colleges, and hospitals in the surrounding areas of Mumbai, as well as rural populations from across Maharashtra.
Dr Geetanjali Sachdeva, ICMR-NIRRCH Director, said: “Strengthening access to genetic testing and counselling for rare diseases will pave way for their early diagnosis and intervention. This will help improve the health and well-being of some of the most vulnerable sections of the society.”
According to experts, children are most affected by rare diseases as several disorders have genetic basis. However, nearly 35 per cent of the deaths resulting from genetic disorders in children occur within the first year of life, while 10 per cent transpire between ages one and five, and 12 per cent between ages 5 and 15.
“ICMR-NIRRCH’s aim is to address this problem by enhancing access to high-quality and free testing and counselling services. The centre also holds Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act approval for these services,” said an official from the state health department.
