What Is The Impact Of Personalised Medicine On Indian Healthcare?
Have you ever wondered why some prescribed medicines don’t seem to work as well as they should? Or why, despite sticking to a doctor’s advice, the results vary for different people? If so, you're not alone. This can often be due to the standard “one-size-fits-all” approach in healthcare, which doesn’t account for individual differences in our genetic makeup, lifestyle, and health history.
So, how do we fix this? That’s where personalised medicine comes in. This emerging field offers a more customised approach, focusing on treatments that fit each person’s unique needs. Today, let’s dive into what personalised medicine is, how it’s growing in India and the incredible impact it’s beginning to have on healthcare.
What is personalised medicine?
Personalised medicine, sometimes called precision medicine, uses a person’s genetic information to tailor prevention, diagnosis, and treatment options specifically for them. Instead of relying on a standard method that might work for some but not others, personalised medicine considers each individual’s unique characteristics.
For instance, certain types of breast cancer, like HER2-positive breast cancer, respond better to treatments specifically targeted for that cancer type. By understanding the genetic profile of a patient’s cancer, doctors can use targeted therapies that are far more effective than general treatments.
Evolution journey of personalised medicine
While the idea of personalised medicine might seem new, it actually began making waves back in 1999. The term first appeared in an article titled "New Era of Personalized Medicine" in The Wall Street Journal. Since then, advances like the Human Genome Project, which mapped the entire human genome, have opened up new ways for researchers to apply genetics to medical treatments.
In short, the past few decades have seen enormous progress, turning the once-distant dream of personalised medicine into a reality that’s already starting to improve patient care.
6 Key benefits of personalised medicine
So, what makes personalised medicine so promising? Here are some of the biggest benefits:
1. Tailored Treatments: By considering a person’s genes, health history, and lifestyle, doctors can develop a treatment plan that’s a better fit. This patient-centered approach often leads to more effective outcomes.
2. Increased Accuracy: With the help of AI and data analysis, personalised medicine can pinpoint the root cause of a condition, leading to more accurate diagnoses and reducing unnecessary treatments.
3. Early Detection and Prevention: If someone has a family history of certain diseases, genetic testing can help spot the risk early. This proactive approach makes it easier to catch diseases like cancer or autoimmune disorders before they become life-threatening.
4. Fewer Side Effects: Treatments aligned with a person’s unique genetic makeup are less likely to cause adverse reactions. Instead of a “trial and error” method, personalised medicine aims to minimise unwanted side effects right from the start.
5. Cost Efficiency: By avoiding ineffective treatments and focusing on what works best for each individual, personalised medicine can help save both time and money.
6. Advancements in Healthcare and Research: Personalised medicine encourages new research and innovations, especially with tools like telemedicine and AI. This is a big plus for rural patients, who may have less access to specialists but can still benefit from these advancements.
Personalised medicine in India: A growing need
With a population of over 1.3 billion, India faces a unique health burden. Both communicable and non-communicable diseases are widespread, and there’s an increasing need for customised healthcare solutions that fit diverse needs. Personalised medicine could be a game-changer here, allowing doctors to analyse genetic and health data to create treatment plans that are more effective and less prone to complications.
India’s personalised medicine sector is growing rapidly, with genetic testing - a core part of this field - seeing substantial growth. The Indian genetic testing market, for instance, reached around ₹4,544.5 crore (around $61 million) in 2022 and is projected to grow even more by 2028. This market expansion shows just how essential this approach could be for the future of Indian healthcare.
The government has also introduced several projects that could support the growth of personalised medicine:
- Genome India Project (2020): This project is working on collecting 10,000 genetic samples from citizens across India to better understand the country’s genetic diversity.
- NIDAN Kendra Program: This program helps prevent and manage inherited genetic disorders, providing genetic counselling and support to expecting parents.
- Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM): A government-led initiative to digitise healthcare records, making it easier to access and share patient data across the country.
These efforts reflect India’s commitment to making healthcare more accessible and tailored to individual needs.
What is the role of artificial intelligence in personalised medicine?
When it comes to personalised medicine, AI plays a vital role. Here’s how it contributes:
1. Data Analysis: AI sifts through mountains of genetic and health data, identifying patterns and trends. This data helps doctors predict health issues and personalise treatment plans.
2. Decision-Making Support: AI serves as a “second opinion” for doctors, guiding them through diagnosis and treatment choices with data-driven insights.
3. Drug Discovery and Development: By analysing the genetic and molecular structure of diseases, AI can help create drugs that are more effective and safer.
4. Early Disease Detection: AI helps identify health risks before they escalate, allowing for preventive measures that can improve patient outcomes.
With AI’s capabilities, personalised medicine is becoming even more precise, helping doctors make better decisions based on real, customised data.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q.1) What is the benefit of using a personalised medicine approach to treating disease?
Personalised medicine offers a targeted approach to treatment by considering a person’s unique genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. This leads to more accurate diagnoses, fewer adverse effects, and treatments that are more likely to be effective. It allows healthcare providers to tailor interventions to each patient’s specific needs, potentially leading to faster recovery and improved outcomes.
Q.2) What is an example of personalised medicine in healthcare?
An example of personalised medicine is the use of genetic testing to determine the best cancer treatment options. For instance, in breast cancer, testing for specific genes like HER2 can guide oncologists to select targeted therapies, such as Herceptin, that are more likely to be effective for patients with HER2-positive cancer cells.
Q.3) What are the current applications of personalised medicine?
Currently, personalised medicine is used in a range of areas, including oncology, cardiology, and infectious diseases. Genetic testing helps predict disease risk and informs preventive care, while pharmacogenomics enables doctors to select medications based on a patient’s genetic makeup to avoid adverse reactions. Additionally, personalised approaches in diabetes and mental health treatment are evolving, helping healthcare providers deliver optimised therapies based on individual patient profiles.
Q.4) How effective is personalised medicine?
Personalised medicine has shown high effectiveness in many areas, especially in treating complex conditions like cancer and cardiovascular diseases. By using biomarkers and genetic profiles, personalised medicine can improve the accuracy of treatments, reduce trial and error with medications, and increase patient satisfaction and quality of life.
Wrapping it up!
Think of personalised medicine as a tailor-made solution for your health. In a country as diverse as India, with its vast range of genetic variations, a one-size-fits-all approach simply doesn’t cut it. Personalised medicine, supported by technological advancements like AI, is paving the way for treatments that are better suited to each individual’s needs.
Imagine having healthcare that’s not only about treating diseases but also about preventing them. That’s the promise of personalised medicine: a future where healthcare is proactive, precise, and personal. With more research, investment, and government support, customised medicine could become accessible to everyone in India, regardless of where they live.
It’s an exciting time for healthcare, and personalised medicine is right at the heart of this transformation.
References
1. https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/Personalized-Medicine
2. https://www.jax.org/personalized-medicine/precision-medicine-and-you/what-is-precision-medicine
3. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6366451/
4. https://www.nih.gov/about-nih/what-we-do/nih-turning-discovery-into-health/personalized-medicine
