The Delhi government has launched a free newborn screening programme at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital under Mission ANMOL, seeking to detect genetic, metabolic and congenital conditions at an early stage and enable timely treatment.
The programme, which became operational in March 2026, aims to screen around 2.5 lakh newborns every year for 56 conditions. These include congenital hypothyroidism, congenital heart defects, hearing impairment and eye diseases.
The initiative was announced as part of the Delhi government's 2026-27 Budget and is intended to move towards comprehensive newborn screening across government healthcare facilities in the capital.
Screening begins at LNJP Hospital
At present, LNJP Hospital is the Delhi government's main facility for the programme. The hospital's Medical Genetics Lab is conducting screening of newborn samples and providing genetic diagnostic services.
According to the hospital's genetics department, around 14,000 newborn samples are currently being screened every month. The laboratory examines newborns for conditions including glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, thyroid disorders and congenital adrenal hyperplasia, alongside several other markers.
The government plans to expand the programme to other hospitals so that screening can eventually cover every child born in Delhi. Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh has said additional genetic testing laboratories will be established as the programme expands.
The programme's annual target was increased from around 1.5 lakh newborns to 2.5 lakh as part of the government's expansion plan. Officials said the objective is to move towards near-universal screening through government hospitals and outreach centres.
Early detection can enable timely treatment
Newborn screening is designed to identify conditions that may not be immediately apparent at birth but can cause serious complications if diagnosis and treatment are delayed.
The conditions covered under Mission ANMOL include metabolic and endocrine disorders as well as functional and visible congenital conditions. Congenital hypothyroidism, for example, can affect physical and brain development if left untreated, while some metabolic disorders can cause developmental problems and other serious complications.
Officials said the programme will also cover congenital heart defects, hearing impairment and retinopathy of prematurity. The screening is intended to be followed by further evaluation and care where a newborn is found to require additional assessment.
Doctors at LNJP have stressed that a screening result does not by itself constitute a final diagnosis. Babies who receive an abnormal screening result require confirmatory testing before a condition can be established.
Programme to strengthen staffing and follow-up
The Delhi government has approved 148 positions to support the expanded programme, including the continuation of 73 existing posts and the addition of 60 staff nurses and 15 optometrists.
The nurses will assist with sample collection, particularly for premature and critically ill newborns, as well as coordination of care and transportation. Optometrists will support screening for retinopathy of prematurity.
The government also plans to improve coordination between hospitals, laboratories and programme units so that newborns can be screened before discharge. Particular attention is being given to hospitals with high delivery volumes and neonatal intensive care units.
Wider push for genetic diagnosis
Mission ANMOL forms part of a broader effort to strengthen genetic diagnosis and early intervention in India.
At the national level, the Department of Biotechnology's UMMID programme has focused on genetic diagnostics, prenatal and newborn screening, genetic counselling and capacity building. The Centre said in May 2026 that the programme had benefited nearly three lakh people through screening and diagnostic services and had helped establish nearly 30 NIDAN Kendras for advanced diagnostics and counselling.
For Delhi, the expansion of Mission ANMOL is intended to bring similar early screening into routine public healthcare. By identifying conditions soon after birth, authorities aim to enable affected children to receive specialist assessment, treatment and follow-up before symptoms lead to more serious complications.