Kerala’s health system  long praised for its low infant-mortality rate  now faces a rising concern: a surge in newborns with genetic defects, according to a recent Assembly Estimates Committee report. 
The data, drawn from the state’s Newborn Screening Program, shows that reported cases climbed from 2,635 in 2021 to 3,232 in 2022 and 4,779 in 2023.  Thiruvananthapuram district recorded the steepest rise, with cases jumping from 379 in 2021 to 1,237 in 2023  a more than 200% increase. 

The committee has called for a thorough investigation into the drivers behind this trend. Among the likely contributors they listed are advanced parental age, late pregnancies, poor diet, lifestyle diseases, and even excessive mobile phone use  though more research is needed to confirm causality.  At the same time, they flagged worrying inefficiencies: funds earmarked for the state’s micro-diagnosis programme remain underutilized, limiting early detection and preventive efforts. 

There are already consequences for the healthcare system: in Alappuzha, two scanning centres were shut down after failing to detect deformities in a newborn who later turned out to have major genetic anomalies.  An autopsy of a 3-year-old girl from Idukki revealed a previously undetected diaphragmatic hernia (a congenital defect), raising questions about prenatal screening effectiveness. kerala’s health ministry has taken steps. A rare-disease registry and treatment clinic are being established, and the Shalabham program for congenital disability detection is underway. Meanwhile, the Hridyam initiative continues to treat congenital heart diseases in newborns, highlighting the state’s multi-pronged approach to tackle this emerging public health challenge.