GMCH-32 yet to submit report on expired genetic kits

Chandigarh: Despite the UT health secretary's order to submit the genetic centre report at the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) at Sector 32 within a week, there has been a delay of over a month for the same. “I have not been given the report yet,” said Yashpal Garg, health secretary, UT.
On May 2, the UT health secretary had asked the enquiry committee to submit the report within a week. The internal enquiry report was completed last month and handed over to the director principal of GMCH 32.
According to an RTI, GMCH 32 used expired kits for genetic testing of newborn and pregnant women from 2016 until 2020. According to the RTI, 8736, tests were done in pregnant women in the last five years using the expired kits, while in the newborn, 36,320 expired kits were used in the newborn. The expiry test kits were used for triple test, dual test, Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) Deficiency and Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH).
The GMCH had formed a committee to investigate the matter, which was chaired by Prof G P Thami, head of the dermatology department. The enquiry committee was formed in December.
Sources said the report has found that the allegations of expired kits were true. “Why is it taking so long for the findings to be submitted to the UT administration? This centre had been screening genetic abnormalities in the newborn for so many years. Having expired kits for the new born is a serious offence,” said a faculty in GMCH 32.
There have been more than one incharge of the genetic centre since 2016. Two of them have left the institute, while the other three are working in GMCH 32. These kits are imported and cost over a crore. They have a shelf life and do not work well after the date of expiry. The Genetic Centre had been screening pregnant ladies for chromosomal and neural tube defects and identified Down Syndrome.