Northeast India Gets First Centre for Enzyme Therapy for Rare Genetic Disorder
Assam Medical College and Hospital achieves a specialised healthcare milestone by administering enzyme replacement therapy for patients with lysosomal storage disease.
DIBRUGARH, Sept 5: Assam Medical College and Hospital (AMCH) in Dibrugarh has emerged as the first centre in Northeast India to administer enzyme replacement therapy for a lysosomal storage disease, marking a significant development in specialised care for patients suffering from rare genetic disorders.
The milestone expands access to specialised treatment within the region, potentially reducing the need for patients and families to travel to major healthcare centres outside the Northeast for advanced therapy.
Lysosomal storage diseases are a group of inherited disorders in which certain substances accumulate inside cells because the body lacks specific enzymes needed to break them down.
Depending on the particular disorder, patients can develop problems affecting multiple organs and systems. Early diagnosis and appropriate long-term treatment are therefore important for managing the condition and limiting complications.
The introduction of enzyme replacement therapy at AMCH represents an important step in strengthening the region’s capacity to provide specialised treatment for rare diseases.
The availability of such therapy closer to patients can also support continuity of care, regular monitoring and coordination between specialists and families.
Rare diseases often present challenges because of limited awareness, delayed diagnosis and the availability of specialised treatment. Building treatment facilities within regional medical institutions can help address some of these barriers.
The development at AMCH also underscores the expanding role of tertiary-care institutions in providing advanced therapies for conditions that were previously difficult to manage locally.
Healthcare specialists have increasingly highlighted the need to improve diagnosis, referral systems and access to treatment for rare disorders, particularly in areas where specialised services remain limited.
The establishment of this treatment capability in Northeast India could therefore contribute to broader efforts to make advanced healthcare more accessible to patients living with uncommon and complex medical conditions.
