Centres to be set up at Rajkot and Bhavnagar civil hospitals

The way genetic diseases and conditions are diagnosed is set to change drastically in the state, with the launch of two new genetic diagnostic centres shortly. The centres, which will be set up at Rajkot and Bhavnagar civil hospitals, will function as complete genetic diagnostic centres with facilities ranging from research and training to detection.

At present, Gujarat has a total of four such centres, including one private and three government laboratories. However, the three government centres have been carrying out research and diagnosis on specific disorders.

For example, the Zoology Department at Gujarat University looks at male infertility; the Cancer Hospital in Ahmedabad focuses on cancer; and the Foundation for Research in Genetic and Endocrinology in Ahmedabad studies chromosome analysis. The new centres, however, are the first two government centres in the state that will provide treatment for all genetic diseases and conditions.

The resources for the new centres will come from Gujarat State Biotechnology Venture Fund. The training and expertise will be provided by the Gujarat State Biotechnology Mission (GSBTM), a wing of the state Department of Science and Bio-Technology.

Apart from diagnosis, the two centres will help the state government in building data to conduct research on specific and special disorders.

“The existing government and private diagnostic centres cater to specific disorders. But the two new centres would provide diagnosis for all genetic disorder cases,” said GSBTM Director Akshaykumar Saxena. He added: “These centres will prove very useful in carrying out research in general as well as on specific disorders.”

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