Health Minister Azad lays foundation stone of National Centre of Disease Control

On Sunday, Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad laid the foundation stone of the up-gradation project of National Centre of Disease Control (NCDC) in New Delhi. The NCDC is being upgraded at a cost of Rs 382 crore and will be equipped with the state of the art facilities. Describing the project as an important milestone in quest to secure the health of nation, Azad said that the upgraded institution is going to have 49 BSL-II and 2 BSL-III labs, in addition to various centres relating to vaccine preventable diseases, bio-terrorism, disaster & emergency response, medical informatics, biotechnology & molecular diagnostics, viral diseases & vaccines, etc. The project is likely to be completed within 24 months.

'NCDC is a 'knowledge pool' of country having epidemiological database of huge scientific value which, upon becoming functional in its new avatar, shall further spruce up our abilities to respond to various outbreaks and diseases', he said.

The upgraded NCDC shall be able to enhance the intake for the prestigious Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) training programme which it is carrying out in collaboration with CDC, Atlanta (USA) as that will help in development of highly skilled field epidemiologists who shall be capable to address the emerging public health challenges.

Speaking on the occasion, Azad said that healthcare sector has witnessed unprecedented reforms in the previous four years with every aspect of it receiving focused attention of the government.

He said that six AIIMS are soon going to become a reality as their Medical colleges are functional since September 2012 and hospitals are at advanced stage of completion. 'PG seats have increased by 70% and MBBS seats have increased by 46% in the last four years. The flow of funds to the States under NRHM has seen a quantum jump, although health is a 'State Subject',' said Azad.

Azad said that various new initiatives like Janini Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram(JSSK), Rashtriya Bal Swastha Karyakaram(RBSK), Sanitary Napkins for Adolescent Girls, opening of 269 ANM/GNM Schools, Establishment of National & Regional Paramedical Institutions are significant and creditable accomplishments of the Ministry.