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July 27, 2024 – New Delhi: In a significant stride towards bolstering India’s pandemic preparedness, the Union Health Ministry has announced the formation of a National Joint Outbreak Response Team. This team is a pivotal component of a broader initiative that integrates efforts across human, livestock, and wildlife sectors to tackle emerging communicable diseases.
Central to this initiative is the establishment of a network of Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) laboratories, designed for testing high-risk or unknown pathogens. This network forms a cornerstone of the newly launched National One Health Mission (NOHM), which aims to address existing gaps and enhance coordination among multiple sectors involved in health surveillance and disease control.
Key Pillars of the National One Health Mission (NOHM):
- Technology-Enabled Integrated Surveillance: Leveraging advanced technologies for comprehensive surveillance across all relevant sectors.
- BSL-3 Laboratory Network: A robust national network of BSL-3 labs for high-risk pathogen testing.
- Collaborative R&D: Integrated research and development efforts for medical countermeasures, including vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics for human-animal-wildlife health.
- Data Integration: Streamlining data across sectors to enhance disease monitoring and response.
- Training and Capacity Building: Strengthening expertise in all areas related to One Health through targeted training programs.
The NOHM’s establishment comes in the wake of a successfully managed Nipah outbreak in Kerala, where a multi-sectoral response played a critical role. The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) provided surveillance support, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) deployed mobile BSL-3 labs for diagnostics, and the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) conducted surveillance in pigs, while the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) monitored bats.
Additionally, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare’s Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), operational since 2004, continues to monitor over 33 communicable diseases nationwide. The program employs District Public Health Laboratories (DPHLs) and State Referral Laboratories (SRLs) to enhance early outbreak detection and response. With an approved budget of ₹386.86 crore, the IDSP has been upgraded to include the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP) for real-time data reporting and advanced analytics.
The government’s commitment to pandemic preparedness is further underscored by the Pradhan Mantri – Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), which aims to fortify primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare facilities. Key activities under this mission include the establishment of Critical Care hospital blocks, regional NCDCs, BSL-3 laboratories, and Health Emergency Operation Centres. The total financial outlay for PM-ABHIM from 2021-22 to 2025-26 is ₹64180 crore.
The Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genome Sequencing (INSACOG) network also plays a crucial role, conducting Whole Genomic Sequencing to detect new variants of SARS-CoV-2 promptly.
Shri Prataprao Jadhav, Minister of State in the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, emphasized the government’s commitment to a unified, multi-sectoral approach in his recent address to the Lok Sabha. The NOHM and associated initiatives are expected to significantly enhance India’s capacity to manage and mitigate future public health emergencies, ensuring a resilient healthcare infrastructure for the nation.
