**Executive Summary**
On May 21, 2026, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh dedicated the UMMID (Unique Methods of Management of Inherited Disorders) programme to the nation to provide affordable and accessible healthcare for rare genetic disorders. The initiative establishes a national framework for early intervention, having already benefited nearly three lakh individuals through a network of approximately 30 NIDAN Kendras. Key actions included the launch of the UMMID Dashboard and Compendium to strengthen nationwide diagnostic access, counseling, and program monitoring.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Program Objectives and Core Vision**
* Aims to make diagnosis and management of rare genetic disorders feasible, affordable, and accessible to all families.
* Promotes a transition toward genome-based, precision-driven, and individualized medical treatment.
* Addresses long-standing challenges such as delayed diagnosis, high treatment costs, and lack of awareness regarding inherited diseases.
**Infrastructure and Digital Tools**
* Established the UMMID Network and nearly 30 NIDAN Kendras to provide advanced diagnostics and counseling beyond metropolitan centers.
* Launched the UMMID Dashboard to facilitate nationwide monitoring of outreach and diagnostic services.
* Released the UMMID Compendium, a resource aimed at strengthening the management of inherited disorders.
**Public Health Integration and Outreach**
* Integrates genetic diagnostics, prenatal and newborn screening, and genetic counseling into a unified public health model.
* Prioritizes outreach in Aspirational Districts and underserved regions to ensure equitable healthcare access.
* Provides a foundation for applying precision medicine to other conditions, including diabetes, cancer, and cardiac ailments.
**Impact Analysis**
**Families Affected by Rare Genetic Disorders**
**Impact**
Families gain access to a coordinated national mechanism that reduces the emotional and financial burden of seeking long-term diagnoses. They benefit from early intervention through prenatal and newborn screening.
**Action Required**
Utilize NIDAN Kendras for genetic counseling and screening to facilitate early detection and management of inherited conditions.
**Clinicians and Healthcare Professionals**
**Impact**
Medical professionals receive specialized training and capacity-building in the fields of genetic diagnostics and precision medicine, expanding their ability to treat complex disorders.
**Action Required**
Participate in clinician training programs and utilize the UMMID Network and Dashboard for improved patient monitoring and diagnostic accuracy.
**Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and Implementing Institutions**
**Impact**
These entities are tasked with managing a socially transformative mission, fostering collaborative biotechnology research and coordinated institutional partnerships.
**Action Required**
Continue to expand the network of diagnostic centers and maintain the UMMID Dashboard to ensure the program's long-term sustainability and reach.
Key Entities Referenced
UMMID (Unique Methods of Management of Inherited Disorders): A national initiative and framework focused on early intervention, genetic diagnostics, and affordable healthcare for families affected by rare genetic disorders.
Department of Biotechnology (DBT): The primary government department responsible for implementing the UMMID programme and managing the network of institutional partnerships for genetic research.
NIDAN Kendras: Specialized centers established under the UMMID initiative to provide advanced genomic diagnostics, prenatal screening, and counseling services.
Aspirational Districts: Underserved regions across India identified as central targets for the expansion of UMMID’s screening and diagnostic outreach services.
Ministry of Science & Technology
Dr. Jitendra Singh Dedicates UMMID Programme
to the Nation; Says Genomic and Precision
Medicine Will Shape the Future of Healthcare
UMMID: A National Initiative Promoting Early Intervention and
Affordable Healthcare for Families Affected by Rare Genetic
Disorders
The entire future of medicine is moving towards gene and
genome-based individualized treatment, says Dr. Jitendra
Singh
UMMID Demonstrates How Science and Public Policy Can
Transform Lives, says Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh
Posted On: 21 MAY 2026 4:10PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, and Minister of
State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space,
Dr. Jitendra Singh today dedicated the UMMID (Unique Methods of Management of Inherited Disorders)
Programme for Rare Genetic Disorders/ Diseases to the Nation and said India is steadily entering an era
where healthcare, diagnosis and treatment will increasingly become genome-based, precision-driven and
individualized according to the genetic profile of every patient.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said inherited and rare genetic disorders remained neglected for decades because
diagnosis itself was difficult, treatment inaccessible and medicines either unavailable or prohibitively
expensive, making it essential to build a coordinated national mechanism to make diagnosis and
management feasible, affordable and accessible for all families.
Describing UMMID as a major step towards the future of precision medicine in India, the Minister said
the initiative would also prepare the country’s healthcare ecosystem for the next generation of gene and
genome-based medical care.
The Union Minister was addressing a special function organised by the Department of Biotechnology for
dedication of the UMMID Network to the Nation at Prithvi Bhawan, New Delhi. On the occasion, the
Minister also released the UMMID Compendium and launched the UMMID Dashboard aimed at
strengthening nationwide access to diagnostics, counselling, outreach and programme monitoring for
inherited disorders.The event was attended by Secretary, Department of Biotechnology and Director General, BRIC, Dr.
Rajesh S. Gokhale; Senior Adviser, DBT, Dr. Suchita Ninawe; senior scientists, clinicians, healthcare
professionals, representatives of UMMID implementing institutions and officials from scientific and
healthcare organisations across the country.
Referring to the healthcare reforms introduced under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership over the
last decade, Dr. Jitendra Singh said the Government has consistently focused on healthcare that is
affordable, accessible, preventive and citizen-centric. He said India has expanded wellness centres,
strengthened health insurance coverage and widened access to affordable medicines while simultaneously
building systems for early detection and preventive healthcare.
The Minister said inherited and rare genetic disorders represent a silent but deeply challenging public
health burden, where families often spend years moving from one hospital to another in search of
diagnosis and treatment. He said despite affecting comparatively smaller populations, these disorders
impose enormous emotional, social and financial hardship on affected families and therefore deserve the
same level of national attention and healthcare sensitivity as any other major disease burden.
Sharing his perspective as a medical professional, Dr. Jitendra Singh said rare genetic disorders
historically received limited attention in mainstream medical education and healthcare practice because of
their low prevalence and complex diagnosis process. He said this often resulted in delayed diagnosis, lack
of awareness and inadequate treatment access for patients. He added that India’s vast genetic diversity
further makes the challenge more complex and requires a robust ecosystem of early screening, genetic
diagnostics, prenatal counselling, clinician training and community outreach.
Appreciating the Department of Biotechnology for taking up a difficult but socially transformative
mission, Dr. Jitendra Singh said UMMID demonstrates how science, compassion and public policy can
come together to reduce suffering through timely intervention and preventive healthcare. He said the
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 said the programme has already benefited nearly three lakh individuals through screening
and diagnostic services and expanded outreach across Aspirational Districts and underserved regions. He
said the initiative has also helped establish nearly 30 NIDAN Kendras for advanced diagnostics and
counselling, ensuring that advanced genomic healthcare reaches beyond metropolitan centres and becomes
accessible to ordinary citizens.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said 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. He said
genetic medicine and nuclear medicine are emerging as two major frontiers that could redefine healthcare
in the coming decades.
Speaking on the occasion, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology and Director General, BRIC, Dr.
Rajesh S. Gokhale said the UMMID initiative has brought hope to thousands of families through scientific
intervention, collaborative biotechnology research and early diagnosis. He said India’s genetic diversity
provides enormous opportunities for scientific innovation and translational healthcare solutions relevant
not only for India but globally.
Earlier, welcoming the gathering, Dr. Suchita Ninawe said the UMMID programme has significantly
strengthened India’s response to inherited genetic disorders by improving access to genetic diagnostics,
counselling and capacity-building. She said the initiative has helped create an integrated nationwide
network for management of rare and inherited diseases through coordinated institutional partnerships.The programme also featured an overview of the UMMID initiative, presentations on achievements and
success stories, and screening of a short film highlighting the initiative’s journey, impact and future
roadmap.****
NKR/AK
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