Strengthening India’s Diagnostic and Research Capabilities in Viral Disease Control
New Delhi: In a major step towards advancing India’s medical research and diagnostics infrastructure, Smt. Anupriya Patel, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, inaugurated the National Virus Research & Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL) Conclave – 2025 in Delhi. The two-day event brought together scientists from 165 VRDLs across the country, alongside senior officials like Dr Rajiv Bahl, Secretary, Dept. of Health Research (DHR) & DG, ICMR, and Dr Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi, Drug Controller General of India (DCGI).
Key Contributions of VRDLs Highlighted
Smt. Patel praised the crucial role of VRDLs in safeguarding public health, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. She emphasized their pivotal role in sequencing viruses, validating around 1,700 diagnostic commodities, and detecting outbreaks of Nipah, Zika, and Kyasanur Forest Disease.
She announced that 16 VRDLs are now equipped with Bio-Safety Level-3 (BSL-3) facilities for studying high-risk pathogens.
Expansion of Virology Infrastructure
Under the Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission, four new regional NIVs are being established in:
- Jabalpur
- Dibrugarh
- Bangalore
- Jammu
These centers aim to ensure national preparedness in detecting and responding to viral outbreaks.
Innovative Solutions for TB and Sickle Cell Disease
Smt. Patel shared innovations supporting India’s fight against tuberculosis (TB):
- Deployment of portable handheld X-ray machines in remote areas.
- Free use of DeepCXR AI-based screening tool trained on over 75,000 chest X-rays.
- Affordable CyTb skin test (₹199) for latent TB detection.
- Rapid molecular diagnostic tool PathoDetect™ for detecting TB and drug resistance.
- Modified BPaL treatment regimen achieving up to 90% cure rate for drug-resistant TB.
In addition, the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission has reduced rapid diagnostic test costs from ₹300 to ₹28 through cost-effectiveness studies by HTAIn.
New In-Vitro Diagnostic (IVD) Protocols and Validation Portal Launched
- The IVD Validation Portal and standardized evaluation protocols, developed in collaboration between ICMR and CDSCO, were released to facilitate faster, transparent, and industry-friendly validation processes for in-vitro diagnostic devices.
- The new system allows manufacturers to apply for validation and track their applications in real time.
VRDL Bulletin Launched
The inaugural VRDL Bulletin was released to systematically track viral infection trends, seasonal patterns, and outbreaks across India, enabling real-time resource allocation by health authorities.
Integration Under the One Health Mission
Smt. Patel underscored India’s pioneering National One Health Mission, which brings together 13 government departments to strengthen health security. Ten VRDLs are now part of a National BSL-3 Network, fostering interdisciplinary cooperation.
Awards for Excellence in Disease Detection and Diagnostics
Smt. Patel awarded 25 top-performing VRDLs:
- Gold Category (8 VRDLs):
• AIIMS Bhopal
• Government Medical College, Amritsar
• ICMR-Rajendra Memorial Research Institute, Patna
…and five others. - Silver Category (17 VRDLs):
• AIIMS Nagpur
• Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi
• Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education & Research, Kolkata
…and 14 others.
Vision for a Resilient, Self-Reliant India
Dr Rajiv Bahl emphasized that VRDLs form an “impenetrable bio-defence,” similar to India’s air defense during Operation Sindoor, supporting early detection and rapid response to viral outbreaks.
Dr Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi underlined the global-first collaboration of CDSCO and ICMR developing 39 standardized IVD evaluation protocols covering diseases like TB, Malaria, and Nipah Virus.
Conclusion
Smt. Anupriya Patel concluded by congratulating DHR, ICMR, and VRDL scientists for their dedication to transforming India into a global leader in medical diagnostics, research, and public health security.
