J&K to set up guard against disease outbreaks with NCDC branch

Srinagar, Feb 11: In a major boost to healthcare infrastructure, Jammu and Kashmir is all set to get its own National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

The establishment of the NCDC branch in J&K would help the J&K government diagnose emerging and re-emerging diseases as well as enhance the capacity for disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, and rapid response to combat outbreaks.

The setting up of the NCDC in J&K has been approved by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The NCDC Jammu and Kashmir branch would function under the NCDC headquartered in New Delhi.

Following the approval of the Administrative Council, Secretary Revenue G Prasanna Ramaswamy has formally sanctioned the transfer of land for setting up the NCDC branch in Jammu.

“Sanction is hereby accorded to the transfer of land measuring 7 kanal 250 sq ft under Khasra No 3456 min situated in village Kot Bhalwal, tehsil Bhalwal, district Jammu in favour of NCDC, New Delhi, under Rule 310 of General Financial Rules, 2017 without any cost for establishment of NCDC Branch in Jammu,” an order said.

Equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, the NCDC J&K would play a pivotal role in the timely detection and prevention of outbreak-prone diseases. It would also provide support to the J&K government in evidence-based public health interventions.

According to sources, the upcoming NCDC branch in Jammu would be equipped with cutting-edge laboratory facilities and modern instrumentation.

The lab would have the capability to test for various viruses including Nipah, Zika, Rabies, Zoonotic diseases, COVID-19, and Hepatitis.

Earlier, samples had to be transported to NCDC Delhi or other branches for diagnosis.

However, the new facility would provide advanced testing capabilities within Jammu itself.

The Centre has decided to establish NCDC branches in every state to strengthen outbreak surveillance and enable quicker response times.

The state-level NCDC branches would coordinate closely with the NCDC headquarters in Delhi, allowing real-time data sharing leveraging advanced technology.

The branches would also ensure the timely availability of updated diagnostic guidelines so that accurate and scientifically validated information could be easily disseminated.

Existing NCDC branches would be upgraded and the network as a whole would conduct integrated disease surveillance with a focus on antimicrobial resistance, and multi-sectoral and insect-related investigations.