As precision medicine gains traction in cancer care and other specialties, the conversation in Indian healthcare is steadily moving beyond technological capability to implementation.
At the India Precision Health & Genomics Leadership Summit 2026, hosted by Thermo Fisher Scientific in association with The Economic Times Healthworld, healthcare leaders, hospital executives and industry stakeholders discussed what it will take to make genomics clinically integrated, operationally scalable and accessible to a larger patient population.
Making precision medicine practical
Opening the summit, Srinath Venkatesh, Managing Director, India & South Asia, Thermo Fisher Scientific, said precision medicine has moved closer to routine clinical practice, particularly in oncology, where molecular information is shaping diagnosis and treatment decisions. However, he noted that scientific progress alone is not enough.
“The work ahead is to make these advances available to many more patients in a way that is practical and accessible for our healthcare ecosystem,” he said.
According to Venkatesh, hospitals are already grappling with the realities of integrating molecular diagnostics into clinical pathways. But there is no single model for adoption.
“The approach will vary by institution based on its patient population, clinical priorities, volumes, infrastructure and economics. At Thermo Fisher, our starting point is understanding the priorities of healthcare and scientific institutions at different stages of their genomics journey. We bring our technology and scientific expertise, share relevant experience from India and other markets, and work with our partners on approaches suited to their clinical and operational needs,” he concluded.
Foundations for Scale
Delivering the keynote address, Dr Sunil Khetarpal, Deputy Director General, Association of Healthcare Providers India (AHPI), argued that the real challenge in precision oncology lies not in technology, but in building a healthcare system capable of delivering it effectively.
“The biggest challenge is having a healthcare system which is capable of delivering precision oncology to the right patient at the right time at an affordable cost,” he said.
Dr Khetarpal outlined six pillars for strengthening India’s precision oncology ecosystem: diagnostic capacity, clinical integration, workforce development, affordability, data infrastructure and governance.
He noted that access to advanced diagnostics remains uneven, particularly outside major cities, and advocated hub-and-spoke models to improve reach.
“The objective should be access to technology, not necessarily the ownership of technology,” he said.
He also emphasized the need to integrate genomic insights into treatment decisions through closer collaboration between oncologists, pathologists, geneticists and molecular experts. Genomic findings must inform clinical decision-making rather than remain confined to laboratory reports.
Stressing the importance of India-specific genomic datasets and clinical evidence, he added, “Precision oncology should not become a privileged oncology for a handful of people.”
Hospitals driving adoption
A leadership discussion featuring Gautam Khanna, CEO, P.D. Hinduja Hospital, and Dr Upasana Arora, Managing Director, Yashoda Group of Hospitals, explored how hospitals are translating genomics from research into clinical practice.
Dr Khanna cited an example. Research at Hinduja Hospital identified NUDT15, not the widely used TPMT variant, as a key predictor of thiopurine toxicity in Indian patients1, influencing clinical practice before international guidelines adopted the marker. It conveyed a clear message. “The more Indian data is published, the more clinicians will use it,” he said. The example illustrated a broader theme running through the summit: India’s genomics ecosystem must be built on Indian evidence.”
Dr Arora, whose group has invested heavily in precision medicine capabilities, described genomics as an important component of the shift towards more personalized care. Speaking about future plans, she highlighted efforts to strengthen research capabilities, including creating a biobank and a dedicated research-focused facility.
“We should think about the future,” she said, urging more private hospitals to contribute to research and evidence generation alongside government-led initiatives.
Genomics reaching beyond Oncology
While oncology remains the most mature application area, hospital leaders said genomics is finding increasing utility across a wider range of clinical scenarios. According to Khanna, genomic testing guides antiplatelet therapy, evaluates selected unexplained clotting disorders, screens for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) carriers, assesses inherited cardiac conditions, and supports rare disease and oncology applications.
Its value becomes especially evident in complicated or unresolved cases.
Genomics is playing major role in tertiary-care settings, especially in difficult-to-diagnose cases. Access remains largely urban, however.
Khanna also cautioned against indiscriminate testing, arguing that genomic findings should guide clinical judgement, not replace it.
“I don’t want the clinician to be replaced by one test,” he said, arguing that genomic information must always be interpreted within a broader clinical context.
Talent, trust and next steps
Talent remains one of the biggest hurdles in scaling genomics programmes.
“It’s quite scarce” Khanna said, referring to specialists who can interpret genomic findings and translate them into clinical decisions.
In response, hospitals are investing in training and upskilling existing teams, though demand continues to outpace availability.
Khanna also pointed to the importance of the Genome India Programme in building population-specific evidence and uncovering previously unreported variants. However, he stressed that research findings must be clinically validated before they can be adopted widely.
Artificial intelligence, speakers agreed, can speed up analysis and help manage growing volumes of genomic data, but it should remain a support tool rather than a substitute for medical judgement. Discussions also highlighted the importance of patient trust, particularly around informed consent, data privacy and genetic counselling. As genomics moves into mainstream care, participants said collaboration across healthcare, research, industry and government will be critical to expanding patient access.
Reference:
- Shah SA, Paradkar M, Desai D, Ashavaid TF. Nucleoside diphosphate-linked moiety X-type motif 15 C415T variant as a predictor for thiopurine-induced toxicity in Indian patients. J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2017 Mar;32(3):620-624. doi: 10.1111/jgh.13494. PMID: 27416873.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this content are those of the speaker ( except for Srinath Venkatesh who participated as a Thermo Fisher Scientific representative) and do not necessarily represent an endorsement, promotion, or official position of Thermo Fisher Scientific India or reflect any views of Thermo Fisher Scientific India. This content is intended for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. The information discussed may not be applicable to all patients or situations. Healthcare professionals should use their own clinical judgment and consult relevant guidelines before making any medical decisions.
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