Parliament Question: Establishment of Virus Detection and Surveillance Institutes

GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH RESEARCH LOK SABHA UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 1318 TO BE ANSWERED ON06THFEBRUARY, 2026 ESTABLISHMENTOFVIRUS DETECTIONAND SURVEILLANCE INSTITUTES

1318.SHRIM K RAGHAVAN:

Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:

(a) whether the Government has proposed or approved the establishment of any new national institute(s) for the detection, surveillance andresearch of viruses, includingfacilities with Bio Safety Level-4(BSL-4)laboratories, inthe country;

(b) if so, the objectives, functions, institutional structure and funding pattern of the proposed or approvedinstitute(s);

(c) whether the Government has conducted any assessment or study regarding regional requirements for virus detection and surveillance institutes, particularly in States that frequently report outbreaks of diseases such as Nipah virus infection and amoebic meningitis and if so, the detailsthereof;

(d) whether the Stateof Kerala hasbeenconsidered for establishing anysuch national or regional virus detection institute, in view of its past experience with emerging and re-emerging viral diseases inthe country, if so, the detailsthereofandif not,the reasons therefor; and

(e) the steps taken/proposed tobe takenbytheGovernment toensure adequatevirussurveillance, detectionandresearch infrastructure inthe Stateof Kerala? ANSWER THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE (SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV)

(a)to(c): Under the Pradhan Mantri–Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM- ABHIM), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) hasundertakensetting up of Zonal National Institutes of Virology (NIVs) at Bengaluru, Jabalpur and Jammu with BSL-3 laboratories, and at Dibrugarh witha BSL-4laboratory.Settingupof National Institutefor OneHealth(NIOH), Nagpur, has also been undertaken with BSL-4 and BSL-3 laboratories, including an animal BSL-3 facility.

The upgrading of five Viral Research and Diagnostics Laboratories (VRDLs) into BSL-3 facilities has also beensupported by ICMR through PM-ABHIM scheme. These initiatives aimto strengthen capacity for early detection, diagnosis and research on high-risk pathogens, support outbreak investigations and molecular surveillance, promote a One Health approach, and enhance preparedness for public healthemergencies.

Under the VRDL scheme of Department of Health Research (DHR), 165 VRDLs have been set upacross 27 States and 5 Union Territories. Through the VRDL network, virus detection and surveillance activities are continuously carried out, and the resulting inputs are utilized for strengthening laboratory capacity and for prioritizing locations for augmentation of diagnostic and surveillance facilities.

The establishment of Zonal NIVs by ICMR and VRDLs in various medical colleges and research institutes has been undertaken based on the regional requirements for virus detection and surveillance,research needs aswell asthe proposals receivedfrom State/UTGovernments.

(d) and(e): The Government of India, through the DHR under the VRDL Scheme, has undertaken measures to strengthen virus surveillance, detection and research infrastructure in Kerala,includingstrengthening VRDLswith equipment,reagentsandtrainedmanpower; upgrading laboratories for molecular diagnostics; conducting regular training and capacity-building programmes; and supporting research on emerging and re-emerging viral diseases of public health importance.

In order to ensure adequate virus surveillance, detection and research infrastructure in the State of Kerala inthe State of Kerala,the following VRDLs have beenestablished:

Institution/ Unit Location Type/ Category Government Medical College Kozhikode Regional Level National Institute of Virology FieldUnit Alappuzha StateLevel Government Medical College Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Level Government Medical College Thrissur Medical College Level Government Medical College Kannur Medical College Level Government Medical College Manjeri Medical College Level Government Medical College Ernakulam Medical College Level SreeChitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Sciences& Technology (SCTIMST), Level ICMR has a field unit of ICMR-NIV in Alappuzha and also supports the State of Kerala through existing national surveillance and laboratory networks, including access to apex and regional reference laboratories, genomic surveillance platforms, deployment of Mobile BSL3 and technical support during outbreak investigations including recent Nipah virus outbreaks, as per national guidelinesandmechanisms.

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