Will TN Launch Genetic Disorder Centres in Coimbatore and Madurai?

Chennai, May 28 (NationPress) The Tamil Nadu Health Department, in partnership with the National Health Mission (NHM), is actively working on the establishment of two advanced Centres of Excellence aimed at the prevention, diagnosis, and management of genetic disorders in Coimbatore and Madurai.

These new centres are designed based on the successful operational model at the Institute of Child Health and Hospital for Children (ICH) in Chennai.

Authorities have stated that construction is progressing well, with approximately 50 percent of the infrastructure already completed.

The state government has allocated Rs 8.19 crore for the development of these specialised centres, which are anticipated to greatly improve Tamil Nadu’s ability to manage genetic disorders contributing to the state’s Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and Under-Five Mortality Rate (U5MR).

“These centres aim to enhance early diagnosis and care for children affected by rare and complex genetic conditions,” remarked Dr S. Srinivasan, an expert advisor for child health at NHM-Tamil Nadu.

“The model at ICH in Chennai has yielded positive results, and we are in the process of replicating it in government medical college hospitals in Coimbatore and Madurai,” Dr. Srinivasan added.

The Centres of Excellence will serve a broad range of genetic and metabolic disorders, including hemoglobinopathies like thalassemia and sickle cell anemia, chromosomal disorders, spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), other neuromuscular conditions, lysosomal storage diseases (LSD), mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS), congenital adrenal hyperplasia, congenital hypothyroidism, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6PD) deficiency, and cystic fibrosis.

“These life-limiting conditions require prompt and advanced diagnostic tools for effective management,” Dr. Srinivasan emphasized.

At the Chennai facility, high-end diagnostic instruments such as Tandem Mass Spectrometry (TMS) and Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) machines are already operational. These technologies enable comprehensive screening and diagnosis of rare genetic disorders.

TMS, for example, is employed to identify inborn errors of metabolism (IEM), a set of rare disorders stemming from enzyme deficiencies that hinder the body’s ability to convert food into energy. “With these sophisticated technologies, we can not only diagnose but also provide targeted treatment options and genetic counselling to families,” stated Dr. Srinivasan.

“This initiative marks a significant advancement towards integrating precision medicine within the public health framework,” he remarked.

The centres in Coimbatore and Madurai are anticipated to become fully operational in the forthcoming months. Once active, they will play a crucial role in addressing the challenges posed by genetic disorders in the state, offering life-saving diagnostics and care to at-risk children and their families.