Team siliconindia

• Assam Medical College and Hospital (AMCH) becomes the first Centre of Excellence (CoE) for rare diseases in Assam.
• Recognised under the National Policy for Rare Diseases (NPRD), 2021 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• Second such centre in the northeast, after RIMS Imphal, joins 15 elite centres across India.

In a landmark development for healthcare in the northeast, Assam Medical College and Hospital (AMCH), Dibrugarh, has been designated as a ‘Centre of Excellence’ (CoE) for Rare Diseases by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. The recognition comes under the National Policy for Rare Diseases (NPRD), 2021.

The official notification was released by the Ministry’s Rare Disease Cell. It places AMCH among a select group of 15 tertiary government hospitals across India equipped to provide specialised care, diagnostics, and research for rare diseases. This makes AMCH the first institution in Assam and the second in the northeast, after RIMS Imphal, to receive this prestigious designation.

As a Centre of Excellence, AMCH will focus on improving early diagnosis, access to affordable treatment, and long term care for patients with rare conditions. It will also support clinical research, training of healthcare professionals, and collaboration with other medical institutions and patient advocacy groups.

The designation allows AMCH to receive central support for developing specialised infrastructure, hiring trained staff, and procuring equipment necessary for rare disease management. The hospital will also play a key role in spreading awareness and building referral systems across Assam and neighbouring states.

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The Chief Minister’s Office welcomed the announcement, describing it as a major step in strengthening Assam’s healthcare system. The leadership of Principal cum Chief Superintendent Dr Sanjeeb Kakati and his team was also acknowledged for this achievement.

With this recognition, AMCH is set to become a critical lifeline for thousands of patients in the region suffering from rare and often undiagnosed medical conditions, bringing much needed hope to affected families.