The Prime Minister’s Science, Technology, and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC) reviewed the ongoing activities for pandemic preparedness across agencies and recognised the need for a unified effort in pandemic preparedness through a "National One Health Mission (NOHM)" to address gaps and enhance coordination among multiple sectors. Thirteen Ministries/Departments coordinate and synergise their activities to realise the objectives of the NOHM, which is steered by the Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India along with key stakeholders.

The key pillars of the NOHM are:

1. Technology enabled integrated surveillance across sectors.
2. National network of Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) laboratories (for testing high-risk or unknown pathogens).
3. Collaborative and integrated R&D for medical countermeasures including vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics for human-animal-wildlife-livestock health.
4. Data integration across sectors.
5. Training and capacity building in all spheres related to One Health.

The following work has been undertaken:

1. A national network of BSL-3 laboratories has been established with operational labs from various sectors.
2. The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has notified a National Joint Outbreak Response Team connecting human, livestock, and wildlife sectors.
3. An Epidemiology training program has been launched.
4. A multi-sectoral response to the Nipah outbreak in Kerala was provided where the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) provided surveillance support, ICMR provided mobile BSL3 for lab diagnostics, and the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) conducted surveillance in pigs and Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) conducted bat surveillance.

The Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), active since 2004, monitors and responds to over 33 communicable diseases across all 36 States/UTs. IDSP employs District Public Health Laboratories (DPHLs) and State Referral Laboratories (SRLs) for disease surveillance and media scanning to enhance early outbreak detection and response. The Government has approved ₹386.86 Crore for a new program under the National One Health Mission, aimed at bolstering integrated disease control and pandemic preparedness through enhanced surveillance, R&D, data integration, and global collaboration.

The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare provides technical guidance, laboratory support, and logistics for outbreak investigations and public health measures. The Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) has been enhanced to include decentralized surveillance and Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) at district and State levels. The IDSP now features the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP) for real-time data reporting and advanced analytics, operational across all States. Additionally, the Department of Health Research (DHR) has established over 150 Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratories (VRDLs) to improve virus diagnosis. States are also supported in strengthening district-level laboratories through the Integrated Public Health Laboratory network under the National Health Mission.

With the long-term goal to prepare the country against public health emergencies, the Pradhan Mantri - Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) has been launched to enhance the capacity of primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare facilities and institutes for identifying and managing any new and emerging diseases. Some of the key activities under this initiative are directed towards preparedness against future pandemics, which includes the establishment of Critical Care hospital blocks, strengthening of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), establishment of regional NCDCs, setting up of a network of Bio-Safety Level-3 (BSL-3) laboratories, strengthening of public health units at Points of Entry, establishment of Health Emergency Operation Centres, Bio-security preparedness, strengthening pandemic research for One Health etc.

Under the scheme, the total financial outlay for the scheme period (2021-22 to 2025-26) is Rs. 64180 crores.

The Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genome Sequencing (INSACOG) network conducts Whole Genomic Sequencing for timely detection of new SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Under the PM-ABHIM scheme and ‘Programme for Strengthening Research & Development towards integrated disease control and pandemic preparedness for the National One Health Mission’, there is a provision for community engagement, risk communication, and capacity building including trainings and workshops of the stakeholders.

The Minister of State in the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

 

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MV

HFW/ Research update on the new strains of communicable diseases/26 July 2024/5

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