UMMID (Unique Methods of Management and treatment of Inherited Disorders) initiative:

Department of Biotechnology has started the UMMID Initiative which is designed on the concept of ‘Prevention is better than Cure’.

UMMID aims to create awareness about genetic disorders amongst clinicians and establish molecular diagnostics in hospitals so that the fruits of developments in medical genetics reach the patients in India.

UMMID initiative aims to:

1. Establish NIDAN (National Inherited Diseases Administration) Kendras to provide counselling, prenatal testing and diagnosis, management, and multidisciplinary care in Government Hospitals wherein the influx of patients is more.
2. Produce skilled clinicians in Human Genetics.
3. Undertake screening of pregnant women and new born babies for inherited genetic diseases in hospitals at aspirational districts.

Need for and significance of the initiative:

In India’s urban areas, congenital malformations and genetic disorders are the third most common cause of mortality in newborns. With a very large population and high birth rate, and consanguineous marriage favored in many communities, prevalence of genetic disorders is high in India.

Establishment of patient care services for genetic disorders is the need of the time.