GMC Jammu soon to start NSG tests

Jammu: In a significant development, the Microbiology Department at Government Medical College (GMC), Jammu, is gearing up to initiate Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) tests by the end of February.
This marks a pioneering effort in the state, making GMC Jammu the first institution to conduct NGS tests for cancer detection at the government level.
The testing will commence with an initial phase of 100 examinations in testing mode, with regular testing scheduled post-assessment of result quality. The NGS test involves sampling various cancer types, including blood, to identify potential risks of cancer in family members before the disease manifests.
If a patient's test comes back positive, a comprehensive approach ensures that the disease does not go undetected in other family members.
Timely testing of the patient's relatives allows for early identification of cancer, enabling prompt medical intervention. This proactive measure aims to curb the rising trend of cancer cases in Jammu and Kashmir.
Over the past five years, Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a surge in cancer cases, with over 55,000 reported incidents.
According to Health Ministry data, there were 12,396 cases in 2019, 12,726 in 2020, 13,060 in 2021, and 13,395 in 2022, with a similar trend in 2023.
For 50% of cancer-related deaths in the state, men predominantly face oral and lung cancer, while women are more susceptible to cervical and breast cancer. The Jammu State Cancer Institute has recorded over 6,000 cancer cases in the past year alone.
"The commencement of NGS testing at GMC Jammu is expected to bring medical benefits to both cancer patients and their families, aiding in the control and prevention of this devastating disease," Prof. Rajiv Gupta, HOD, Medical Oncology Department sadi.
"The plan to launch Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) tests at Government Medical College Jammu is in motion, and upon achieving optimal results, the initiative will progress further. The Microbiology Department had previously conducted sequencing tests on a state-of-the-art machine even during the COVID-19 pandemic," Dr. Sandeep Dogra, HOD, Microbiology Department, GMC Jammu said.