**Summary:**
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare addressed concerns regarding the National Polio Surveillance Programme (NPSP) in Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3241 on August 8, 2025. The government has decided to transition polio surveillance activities to the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), under the National Centre for Disease Control. This decision is based on the establishment of robust disease surveillance systems in States/Union Territories for both vaccine-preventable and non-vaccine-preventable diseases, supported by digital monitoring mechanisms and a WHO-accredited laboratory network. The existing disease surveillance guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are deemed sufficient for effective surveillance activities. The domestic disease surveillance systems of States/UTs are aligned with the World Health Organization National Public Health Support Network (WHONPSN). Continuous academic and technical training, supported by WHONPSN, further strengthens these capacities. The timeline for the withdrawal of WHONPSN is by the end of March 2027.
Key Entities Referenced
National Polio Surveillance Programme (NPSP): A national health program in India focused on polio surveillance.
World Health Organization (WHO): An international agency consulted regarding the withdrawal of the WHONPSN.
Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP): The nodal agency for disease surveillance in India.
National Centre for Disease Control: An agency involved in disease control in India.
Anupriya Patel: Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Indian Parliament, where the question regarding the NPSP was raised.
World Health Organization National Public Health Support Network (WHONPSN): An initiative of the World Health Organization that supports public health networks; its withdrawal is planned by the end of March 2027.
March 2027: The timeline for the withdrawal of WHONPSN.
GOVERNMENT OFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENT OFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 3241
TO BE ANSWERED ON08THAUGUST 2025
NATIONALPOLIO SURVEILLANCE PROGRAMME
3241.SMT.KAMALJEET SEHRAWAT:
SHRIKANWAR SINGH TANWAR:
SHRICHAVDAVINOD LAKHAMSHI:
SHRIKHAGEN MURMU:
Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE be pleasedtostate:
(a) whether the Government has decided to withdraw or scale down the National Polio
SurveillanceProgramme (NPSP);
(b) if so, the reasons and rationale behind such decision along with the timeline of
withdrawal;
(c) whether any risk assessment has been conducted to evaluate the implications of
such a move onIndia’spolio-free status andif so, the details thereof;
(d) the alternative mechanisms if any, being proposed to ensure continued
surveillance andimmunisation inthe absence of the said programme;and
(e) whether the Government has consulted with international agencies such as the
WHO before arrivingat thisdecision andif so, the detailsthereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILY
WELFARE
(SMT. ANUPRIYAPATEL)
(a) to (e) - Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), National Centre for Disease
Control is the nodal agency for disease surveillance in the country. The disease surveillance
systems are established in States / UTs for various vaccine preventable and non-vaccine
preventable diseases, supported by digital monitoring mechanism and laboratory network
which are also accredited by WHO. The disease surveillance guidelines and standard
operating procedures (SOPs) are already in place for effective management of surveillance
activities bythe States/ UTs.
The self-reliant domestic disease surveillance system of various States / UTs are
commensurate with the related activities of World Health Organization – National Public
Health Support Network (WHO-NPSN). The updation of technical knowledge, through
continuous academic and technical training activities, as also supported by WHO-NPSN,
strengthens the domestic disease surveillance capacitiesof States/ UTs.
The timelineof withdrawal of WHO-NPSNisby the endof March 2027.
*****