Bengaluru’s IGICH becomes first govt hospital to offer prenatal rare disease screening

The Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health in Bengaluru introduces prenatal screening for rare diseases, giving parents crucial choices during pregnancy.

In a first for government hospitals in Karnataka, the Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health (IGICH) in Bengaluru has begun prenatal screening for rare diseases in unborn babies. The new facility gives expectant parents a vital choice, to continue or terminate a pregnancy if a serious genetic disorder is detected.

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The screening centre, operational for the past two months, has already screened 40 pregnant women identified as being at high risk based on medical history or previous complications. Out of these, 10 underwent chorionic villus sampling (CVS), a procedure that tests placental tissue between the 11th and 14th week of pregnancy. Two parents chose to end their pregnancy following test results confirming severe rare diseases.

This centre operates under IGICH’s Centre for Excellence for Rare Diseases (COERD) and was established with corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds from Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL). It marks a milestone in public healthcare, as such advanced genetic testing was previously available only in private hospitals.

COERD currently treats around 500 children with rare diseases, of which 180 receive support under the National Policy for Rare Diseases 2021, which grants ₹50 lakh per patient. However, treatment expenses often exceed this amount, leaving many families struggling for continued care.

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To address this, IGICH plans to collaborate with private hospitals for organ transplant procedures, as such services are not available in-house. The hospital will soon invite expressions of interest and formalise partnerships through Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs).

This initiative marks a major step in early detection and management of rare genetic conditions, offering hope to families through timely screening, expert care, and informed decision-making.