Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 10: In a major step towards strengthening cancer care services in the region, Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu has launched a state-of-the-art advanced molecular testing facility for cancer patients. The facility was dedicated to the public by Principal and Dean Dr Ashutosh Gupta with the aim of ensuring access to advanced cancer diagnostics free of cost.
The facility has been established by the Department of Pathology under the DIAMOnDS Centre (Advanced Molecular Diagnostic Oncology Services), marking a significant milestone in precision cancer diagnosis and treatment in the region.
Dr Ashutosh Gupta described the initiative as a transformative development for cancer care in Jammu and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. He said that advanced molecular tests were previously unavailable locally, forcing patients to seek costly testing outside the region. As these tests are often expensive and not covered under Ayushman Bharat, many patients were unable to access targeted therapy in time. With the availability of these services locally and free of cost, patients will now receive timely and appropriate treatment without financial burden.
Head of the Department of Pathology, Dr Jyotsna Suri, who played a key role in establishing the advanced facility, said that patients with equivocal HER2 breast cancer reports will no longer need to travel outside the region for confirmatory testing.
She informed that the newly introduced D-DISH test enables precise diagnosis of HER2-equivocal (IHC 2+) breast cancer cases. The test offers high reliability with more than 98 percent accuracy and provides faster results compared to conventional methods.
Dr Suri further explained that the DIAMOnDS Centre is already providing comprehensive biomarker testing free of cost for breast and lung cancers. Breast cancer diagnostics include Estrogen Receptor (ER), Progesterone Receptor (PR), HER2/neu and Ki-67. Lung cancer testing includes TTF1, P40, P63, CK5/6, CK7, NAPSIN, ALK (Clone-D5F3), ROS (SP384), PD-L1 (SP263), and EGFR mutation analysis of Exons 18, 19, 20 and 21.
She emphasized that the initiative reflects GMC Jammu’s commitment to delivering high-quality, accessible and affordable cancer care to the people of the region.
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