National Conclave on Genomic TB Diagnostics Inaugurated at JIPMER

The National Conclave and Policy Dialogue on Universal Drug Susceptibility Testing (UDST) using Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing (tNGS) for Tuberculosis was inaugurated today at JIPMER by Chief Minister of Puducherry Shri N Rangasamy. The three-day national event, organized by the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research (JIPMER), brings together policymakers, public health experts, clinicians, and genomic scientists to deliberate on strengthening drug-resistance detection and advancing genomic technologies.

The inaugural session highlighted national efforts to combat tuberculosis and reviewed the Union Territory's substantial progress, where 36 out of 148 villages have already achieved TB-free status. Puducherry's welfare measures for TB elimination were outlined, including monthly financial assistance of Rs.1,000 and nutritional support provided to affected individuals, along with sustained public awareness drives. JIPMER was commended for its vital contributions as a premier medical institution driving critical public health initiatives.

Director of JIPMER, Dr. Vir Singh Negi, emphasized the urgent necessity for early and accurate detection of drug resistance to prevent treatment failure and transmission. He noted that tNGS technology enables comprehensive identification of genetic mutations to guide precision treatment. Additionally, Shri Nandish R. Pethani, Founder of the Policy Resilience Foundation, advocated for field implementation and pilot projects in Puducherry and Tamil Nadu to generate evidence for scaling up genomic testing across the National TB Elimination Programme.

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