Jipmer inaugurates newborn screening programme

Published 7 August 2026 · health

The Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (Jipmer) has launched a Universal Newborn Screening (NBS) programme along with a dedicated NBS laboratory, aiming

The Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (Jipmer) has launched a Universal Newborn Screening (NBS) programme along with a dedicated NBS laboratory, aiming to screen every eligible newborn delivered at the institute for congenital disorders soon after birth. The NBS programme was inaugurated recently by Saka Vinod Kumar, Medical Superintendent, Jipmer. According to the institute, universal newborn screening is a globally-recommended public health intervention that identifies serious but treatable metabolic, endocrine and other congenital disorders before the onset of symptoms. Early detection and prompt intervention can prevent irreversible complications, including intellectual disability, developmental delay, organ dysfunction and death, thereby improving long-term health outcomes.

As part of the programme, dried blood spot (DBS) samples collected through a simple heel-prick procedure will be processed in the newly-established NBS laboratory using standardised protocols and quality-assured laboratory practices. The programme also includes prompt reporting of results, recall of screen-positive newborns, confirmatory investigations and initiation of appropriate treatment through a multidisciplinary team. According to Vir Singh Negi, Director, Jipmer, “The universal newborn screening fits into the institute’s vision of expanding preventive services for newborns, who are among the most vulnerable populations. In the coming years, Jipmer plans to expand the range of conditions covered under this programme.” Reena Gulati, Professor of Pediatrics, Officer in-charge, Department of Medical Genetics, said that newborn screening has transformed child healthcare across the world by enabling early identification of genetic and metabolic disorders.

She added that many of these conditions were treatable if diagnosed in the neonatal period, thereby preventing lifelong disability and death in some cases, significantly improving the quality of life of affected children. Nisha Plakkal, Professor and Head, Department of Neonatology, said that many affected newborns appear completely healthy at birth and therefore clinical examination alone may not detect these disorders. Universal newborn screening bridges this gap by facilitating timely diagnosis, early intervention and long-term follow-up, ensuring the best possible outcomes for newborns and their families. According to R. Ramesh, Professor and Head, Department of Biochemistry, the NBS laboratory has been developed with standardised workflows and stringent quality assurance systems for processing dried blood spot samples.