In a significant stride towards advancing precision medicine in India, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Jammu has emerged as the first government-run hospital in the country to offer state-of-the-art genomic testing services at affordable rates to patients across the nation.
The initiative, a part of the AIIMS Jammu–4baseCare Centre for Advanced Genomics and Precision Medicine, was conceived earlier this year and has since made notable strides in clinical implementation. In a span of just a few months, the Centre has successfully delivered 125 genomic reports of cancer patients across more than 15 cancer types—including lung, breast, ovarian, and stomach cancers—marking a critical leap in affordable and accessible cancer care. The Centre received cases from across the States, from public and private hospitals including Apollo Hospital in Karnataka, AIIMS Delhi and Bhubaneswar, Fortis Hospital in Delhi, and Jaipur-based SMS Hospital, to name a few.
The Centre is a result of a pioneering collaboration between AIIMS Jammu and Bengaluru-based health-tech firm 4baseCare, with support from Infosys. It was formally inaugurated on February 2, 2025, by Union Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh.
The initiative is guided by a clear mission: to provide advanced genomic diagnostics at a fraction of the conventional cost, thereby making precision medicine accessible to a wider cross-section of Indian families. The project not only strengthens cancer diagnostics in the public sector but also sets a precedent for similar collaborations across other AIIMS and medical institutions in the country.
Talking to The Health Outlook, Prof. (Dr.) Shakti Gupta, Executive Director & CEO of AIIMS Jammu, shared that plans are underway to expand the Centre’s services beyond oncology to encompass other complex diseases, furthering its role in personalised medicine and preventive healthcare.
“Traditionally, advanced genomic tests for cancer were sent abroad, costing between Rs 3 to Rs 5 lakh, while domestic providers charged Rs 1.5 to Rs 2.5 lakh. Our Centre has drastically reduced these costs to nearly one-fourth, opening the doors for many more patients to benefit,” he said.
At the heart of this initiative is Indiegene, India’s first population-specific cancer gene panel, developed through indigenous research and recognized as a Made in India DeepTech innovation. It ensures that test results are tailored to the unique genetic makeup of Indian patients.
Dr. Gupta highlighted the increasing burden of inherited and rare disorders in India, underscoring the urgent need to extend genomic diagnostic services to a broader range of health issues.
In this direction, the Centre plans to provide genomics-based differential diagnosis for rare and inherited diseases, positioning itself as a reference centre for India and neighbouring countries. The same advanced technology that personalizes cancer treatment will also help diagnose rare genetic disorders and guide family health planning.
This expanded mandate includes key areas such as women’s health—with gene-carrier screening for couples, newborn screening for early detection of rare genetic disorders, and evaluation of unexplained infertility and recurrent pregnancy loss, he said.
Neurological disorders are addressed by providing genetic insights into epilepsy, developmental delays, and rare neurological syndromes. In cardiology, the focus is on identifying inherited heart conditions like cardiomyopathies and arrhythmias, as well as assessing sudden cardiac arrest risk in young individuals.
Pediatric care involves diagnosing congenital anomalies, growth delays, and metabolic disorders to enable timely intervention. Testing for inherited eye diseases includes retinitis pigmentosa, congenital blindness, and other hereditary retinal conditions.
The idea is to significantly shorten the prolonged diagnostic issues faced by many families dealing with unexplained health issues. Early and accurate diagnosis not only improves treatment outcomes but also facilitates informed family planning, reducing emotional and financial strain.
Prof. (Dr.) Shakti Gupta remarked, “The collaboration between AIIMS Jammu and 4baseCare exemplifies the transformative potential of public–private partnerships in delivering world-class healthcare at affordable costs.”
Echoing this, Hitesh Goswami, Co-founder and CEO of 4baseCare Precision Health Pvt. Ltd., said, “This initiative shows how Indian innovation can effectively tackle domestic health challenges while matching global standards. India is rapidly emerging as a global leader in precision medicine—an approach that tailors healthcare to each individual’s unique genetic blueprint rather than a one-size-fits-all solution.”
Efforts are being made to ensure that the AIIMS Jammu–4baseCare Centre for Advanced Genomics and Precision Medicine becomes more than just a testing lab for patients across India and neighbouring regions. Prof. (Dr.) Shakti Gupta, Executive Director, AIIMS Jammu, said, “Our goal is to make advanced medical technology available to everyone, not just a few.”
As Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh said during the inauguration, “Gene therapy promises individualized management of disease for each patient. Even if two individuals suffer from the same condition—be it cancer, kidney disease, or any other ailment—the treatment could differ in each case, guided by the individual’s unique genetic makeup, pre-existing susceptibilities, and inherited vulnerabilities.”
The Minister also stressed the need for an India-specific genomic database, highlighting the country’s unique genetic diversity.
