Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) is about to offer advanced genetic tests at a fraction of current prices, potentially under ₹1,000, disrupting India’s healthcare landscape.
Reliance disrupting India’s healthcare ecosystem
RIL plans to leverage Strand Life Sciences, the Bengaluru-based genomics and diagnostics firm it acquired in 2021 for ₹393 crore, to launch the initiative across specialised healthcare testing and genomic sciences.
Genomic tests, which analyse DNA from blood, saliva or tissue samples, are increasingly used to assess disease risk, monitor cancer progression, and guide personalised treatment plans. However, high costs with basic tests, typically around ₹10,000, have limited broader adoption.
RIL’s strategy aims to reduce prices to make it accessible across all income groups, according to company executives.
“We would like to make an impact,” Nilesh Modi, director at Strand Life Sciences, told ET, describing the effort as “Jio-fication in genomics.”
A mid-term objective includes reducing the cost of its CancerSpot early cancer screening test to about ₹9,999 and ultimately into the triple-digit range, making early detection more attainable for millions.
The company plans to lower costs through scientific, assay and lab engineering innovations plus economies of scale.
Also read: AI startup WisprFlow raises $81 million to build Voice OS without pitching, just 4 months after series A (startuppedia.in)
Mukesh Ambani hinted at plans for advancing in genomics
RIL chairman Mukesh Ambani has previously mentioned genomics as a frontier for dramatic health improvements, reflecting the group’s broader push into digital health, life sciences and AI-driven solutions.
If successful, the strategy could redefine preventive healthcare in India, helping shift genetics out of specialised centres and into mainstream medical practice.
Also read: NEHU develops India’s first indigenous semiconductor chip to protect tea gardens from red spider mite (startuppedia.in)
