All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has launched a low-cost advanced diagnostic test aimed at making epilepsy treatment safer and more personalized marking a significant step toward affordable precision medicine in India. The newly introduced test is designed to help doctors identify how patients metabolize anti-epileptic drugs enabling more accurate dosage selection and reducing the risk of severe side effects. Experts say the initiative could significantly improve treatment outcomes for thousands of epilepsy patients particularly those who experience complications due to adverse drug reactions.
According to AIIMS specialists, epilepsy treatment often requires long-term medication management, and patients can respond differently to the same drugs because of genetic variations. The new testing method aims to identify these variations early allowing clinicians to tailor treatment plans more effectively. Doctors noted that anti-epileptic medicines can sometimes cause serious side effects including skin reactions, liver toxicity, neurological complications and treatment resistance in certain patients. The advanced test is expected to reduce such risks by helping physicians choose safer and more compatible medication regimens.
A key highlight of the initiative is affordability. Similar pharmacogenomic or genetic compatibility tests are often expensive and inaccessible for many patients in India. AIIMS officials said the new test has been developed with a focus on low-cost accessibility so that advanced diagnostic support can become available to a wider section of patients. Healthcare experts believe the move reflects the growing role of precision medicine and genomics in modern healthcare where treatments are increasingly customized based on individual biological and genetic profiles.
India has one of the world’s largest epilepsy burdens with millions of people living with seizure disorders. Neurologists say delayed diagnosis, inadequate treatment access, social stigma and poor treatment adherence continue to remain major challenges in epilepsy care across the country. Specialists also point out that inappropriate medication selection can increase hospitalisations, treatment failure and healthcare costs. By enabling early identification of high-risk patients the new test could potentially improve long-term disease management and reduce complications.
AIIMS researchers said the initiative also highlights the importance of integrating advanced diagnostics into public healthcare systems particularly for chronic neurological disorders requiring lifelong management. Medical experts view the development as part of a broader transformation in Indian healthcare where institutions are increasingly focusing on affordable innovation, indigenous research, and technology-driven patient care solutions. The launch is expected to encourage wider adoption of personalised medicine approaches in neurology and other specialities especially as India expands its genomic research and advanced diagnostic capabilities.
