Minister dedicates UMMID programme to nation

Union minister Jitendra Singh on Thursday said the UMMID programme for rare genetic disorders and diseases has already benefited nearly three lakh individuals through screening and diagnostic services.

Launched in 2019, the Unique Methods of Management of Inherited Disorders (UMMID) initiative is supported by the Department of Biotechnology.

The programme has also helped establish nearly 30 National Inherited Diseases Administration (NIDAN) kendras for advanced diagnostics and counselling, ensuring that advanced genomic healthcare reaches beyond metropolitan centres.

Singh, the Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Science and Technology, said, “The UMMID programme has successfully established a national framework integrating genetic diagnostics, prenatal and newborn screening, genetic counselling, clinician capacity-building and community outreach under a unified public health model.”

The minister made these comments during an event for the dedication of the UMMID initiative to the nation.

He also highlighted that the experience gained through UMMID would serve as an important foundation for the future of precision medicine, where treatment protocols for diseases such as diabetes, cardiac ailments and cancers may increasingly be based on the individual genetic profile of patients.

“Genetic medicine and nuclear medicine are emerging as two major frontiers that could redefine healthcare in the coming decades,” said Singh.