BIND Launched to Tackle Rising Burden of Birth Anomalies in India

New Delhi — Smile Train India and Birth Defects Research Foundation have launched BIND — the Birth Anomalies Network of India — a first-of-its-kind national multi-stakeholder platform aimed at addressing gaps in prevention, early detection, treatment and long-term care for children born with congenital

conditions. The initiative was unveiled at the India Habitat Centre on March 2, 2026, bringing together healthcare leaders, researchers, policymakers, civil society organisations and affected families to advance a coordinated national response.

Birth anomalies affect an estimated 600,000 newborns in India every year and contribute significantly to infant mortality, lifelong disabilities and financial and emotional strain on families. As infectious disease-related deaths decline, congenital anomalies are accounting for a growing proportion of child mortality, yet continue to receive limited public attention. BIND aims to align stakeholders across government, healthcare, research institutions and civil society to strengthen surveillance and data systems, promote preventive measures, expand awareness of anomaly scans and newborn screening, improve access to quality treatment and drive evidence-informed policymaking.

At the centre of the initiative is a proposed National Birth Anomalies Registry, which seeks to generate authentic nationwide data, identify preventable risk factors and guide equitable allocation of healthcare resources. A whitepaper outlining the roadmap for a proposed National Birth Anomalies Task Force and key recommendations was released at the launch event.

Speaking at the event, Mamta Carroll, Vice President and Regional Director, Asia, Smile Train, said, “Birth anomalies have remained under-recognised in public discourse for far too long. BIND aims to create a unified platform that brings together clinicians, researchers, caregivers, policymakers and civil society around a shared national purpose. BIND is launched with an ambitious vision to create a more enabling and inclusive environment where every child born with a birth anomaly has timely access to timely information, quality treatment, rehabilitation, and long-term support, and every family is empowered with the care and dignity they deserve.”

Dr. Anita Kar, Director, Birth Defects Research Foundation, Pune, highlighted the research gap, stating, “India lacks robust nationwide data on the true burden, causes, and long-term outcomes of birth anomalies. Without strong surveillance and registry systems, policies remain fragmented and reactive. Children with congenital conditions require integrated, multidisciplinary care, from early diagnosis to safe and sustained comprehensive care supported by sustained public investment and evidence-based planning.”