Union Health Minister lays foundation stone for NCDC branch in OdiState Branches including one in Odisha

New Delhi: The Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Mansukh Mandaviya took a significant step towards fortifying India’s healthcare infrastructure by inaugurating key initiatives virtually at the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). The event marked the foundation stone laying for the NCDC Regional Branch in Assam, state branches in Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Odisha, West Bengal, and Mizoram, as well as BSL-3 labs in Himachal Pradesh and Jharkhand. The ceremony also included the inauguration of a temporary NCDC Regional branch in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.

In attendance were Prof. S P Singh Baghel, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare; Keshab Mahanta, Health Minister, Assam; Anil Vij, Health Minister, Haryana; and Members of Parliament from six states. The occasion was further graced by Hemanga Thakuria, Member of Legislative Assembly, Assam.

Dr. Mandaviya highlighted the pivotal role these regional branches would play in addressing diseases with regional variations, such as CCHF, KFD, and Scrub typhus. The establishment of state branches and BSL-3 laboratories is poised to enhance the capacity of regions and states for pandemic preparedness and response, particularly for outbreaks involving high-risk pathogens.

Expressing his enthusiasm, Dr. Mandaviya emphasized that the healthcare infrastructure inaugurated and initiated during the event would significantly boost regional, district, and block-level healthcare capabilities. These efforts align with the government’s commitment to strengthening disease surveillance, diagnostics, and public health preparedness, crucial elements in safeguarding against future outbreaks and pandemics.

The Union Health Minister reiterated that robust pandemic preparedness and disease surveillance, grounded in resilient health systems reaching all segments of society, are imperative for ensuring better protection against major disease outbreaks. He underscored the commitment of the Government of India to reinforce infectious disease surveillance and outbreak response through the strengthening of institutions like the NCDC.

The regional branches and BSL-3 laboratories are strategically positioned to support outbreak-prone disease management and contribute to India’s ongoing efforts in advancing public health infrastructure. As part of the larger healthcare vision, these initiatives are set to play a pivotal role in elevating the nation’s response capacity to health crises, emphasizing the government’s unwavering dedication to healthcare excellence.