The first genetic lab has come into operation in Bir Hospital, the country's oldest and biggest health facility, from Wednesday.

Established at the cost of around Rs 10 million, the lab has been brought into operation from today marking the 127th establishment day of the Hospital.

The first-of-its-kind lab in the country will carry out the genetic testing, popularly known as DNA testing, to detect genetic faults in patients.

The test will not only help doctors diagnose the ailments, but it will also help them treat certain illness as the effectiveness of medications of patients could be gauged through it, according Vice-Chancellor of National Academy of Medical Sciences Dr Ganesh Gurung.

Dr Gurung explained that the lab was set up in view of diagnosing the genetic ailment in view of growing genetic ailment as cancer, sickle cell anemia and excessive miscarriages among others.

Currently genetic diseases specialist Dr Nilam Thakur and two lab technicians will handle the lab that has been established with the support from the Ministry of Health and Population and the World Health Organization. "More human resources will be trained to handle the lab competently," added Dr Gurung.

Earlier, people had been compelled to carry out the genetic testing in India in lack of the service in the homeland. RSS