Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare addressed questions regarding the strengthening of public health delivery systems, the establishment of specialized laboratories, and the deployment of mobile laboratories named RAMBAAN. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has taken steps to strengthen public health, including establishing VRDL networks and procuring mobile BSL3 vans under the PMABHIM scheme. These mobile labs are strategically deployed during outbreaks and are not intended for permanent placement at all health institutions.
Key Points / Main Content:
ICMR Initiatives for Public Health:
* ICMR supports biomedical research through its 28 institutes and extramural research grants to over 300 medical colleges and institutions.
* The National Health Research Programme (NHRP) supports 30 multi-state projects across 12 priority areas.
* ICMR played a pivotal role in managing the COVID-19 pandemic by scaling up lab capacity, developing indigenous vaccines, validating diagnostic tests, and issuing clinical guidance.
* ICMR contributes to the development of indigenous vaccines and therapeutics for infectious diseases and supports field validation of IVD devices and surveillance tools.
VRDL Network and PMABHIM Scheme:
* The Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratories (VRDL) network, consisting of 165 approved laboratories, facilitates innovative research, provides diagnostic services, and offers technical training.
* Under the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PMABHIM), four zonal National Institutes of Virology (NIVs) and the National Institute of One Health (NIOH) have been approved for ICMR.
* Ten VRDLs will be upgraded to Infectious Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratories (IRDLs), and five VRDLs will be upgraded to Biosafety Level 3 (BSL3) laboratories.
RAMBAAN Mobile Laboratories:
* Two mobile Biosafety Level 3 (BSL3) vans, called RAMBAAN, have been procured and deployed at NIV Pune and RMRC Gorakhpur under the PMABHIM scheme.
* RAMBAAN vans are deployed based on outbreak needs, as demonstrated during the Nipah virus outbreak in Kozhikode (September 2023) and in Malappuram (July 2024).
* These mobile labs facilitate real-time data collection, quick containment, and training of scientific personnel in laboratory operations and biosafety protocols.
* Mobile BSL3 Labs are not required for all health institutions, but can be deployed wherever required during the outbreaks.
Impact Analysis:
ICMR:
* Impact: ICMR is responsible for implementing and overseeing various initiatives to strengthen public health infrastructure and research capabilities.
* Action Required: Continue to coordinate and promote biomedical research, manage the VRDL network, and deploy RAMBAAN vans as needed during outbreaks.
National Institute of Virology (NIV) Pune and Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC) Gorakhpur:
* Impact: These institutions serve as home bases for the RAMBAAN mobile BSL3 vans and are responsible for their deployment and operation.
* Action Required: Maintain and operate the RAMBAAN vans, deploy them as needed during outbreaks, and provide training to personnel.
Health Institutions in Maharashtra:
* Impact: Health institutions benefit from the availability of RAMBAAN vans for outbreak response, but are not guaranteed to have a permanent mobile lab stationed at their location.
* Action Required: Collaborate with NIV Pune for deployment of the RAMBAAN van during outbreaks and ensure personnel are trained in relevant protocols.
Key Entities Referenced
Indian Council of Medical Research: An autonomous body under Department of Health Research, responsible for formulating, coordinating, and promoting biomedical research in India.
National Health Research Programme: A program under which large multi-state projects on identified priority areas are supported.
Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratories: A network of laboratories established throughout the country to facilitate innovative research, provide high-quality diagnostic services, and offer technical training to public health professionals.
Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission: A scheme launched for developing capacities of health systems and institutions to prepare the country against public health emergencies.
National Institute of Virology: An ICMR institute with four zonal locations at Jammu, Dibrugarh, Jabalpur and Bengaluru.
National Institute of One Health NIOH Nagpur: An ICMR institute approved under the PMABHIM scheme.
RAMBAAN Rapid Action Mobile BSL3 Advanced Augmented Network: Mobile Biosafety Level 3 vans procured and deployed at National Institute of Virology NIV Pune and Regional Medical Research Centre RMRC Gorakhpur.
Maharashtra: A state in India where Rapid Action Mobile Labs called RAMBAAN have been deployed.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH ANDFAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTHRESEARCH
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 1102
TOBE ANSWERED ON25TH JULY,2025
RAMBAAN LABORATORY
†1102.DR. KALYANVAIJINATHRAO KALE:
Will the Ministerof HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a) whether any concrete steps have been taken by the Indian Council of Medical Research to
strengthen the public health deliverysystem andif so, the detailsthereof;
(b) whether the Government has set up Small Bowel Series-Laboratory-3 and SBS-3 labs and
accommodatedthem adjoiningthe hospitals for earlydetectionof the virus;
(c)if so, the detailsthereof andif not,the reasons therefor;
(d) the details of the locations where the laboratories call RAMBAAN are functioning in the
country;
(e) whether Rapid Action Mobile Labs called RAMBAAN in Maharashtra have been deployed
outside healthinstitutions;
(f) if so, the detailsthereofand if not,the reasons therefor; and
(g) the time bywhich these mobile labsare likely tobe providedfor all the healthinstitutions inthe
Stateof Maharashtra?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATEIN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTHAND FAMILYWELFARE
(SHRIPRATAPRAOJADHAV)
(a): Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), an autonomous body under Department of
Health Research (DHR) has 28 institutes across the countrywith state- of-the-art facilities working
for formulating, coordinating, and promoting biomedical research. ICMR supports over 300
Medical Colleges and Institutions through extramural research grants. Additionally, 30 large multi-
state projects on projects under 12 identified Priority areas have been supported under National
HealthResearch Programme (NHRP).
DHR has played a pivotal role in establishing Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratories
(VRDL) network throughout the country. 165 such VRDL laboratories have been approved. The
primary objectives of the VRDL scheme are to facilitate innovative research, provide high quality
diagnostic services and offer technical training to public health professionals. These laboratories
support the health system by enabling timely diagnosis, identifying viral pathogens, aiding inresource deploymentduring outbreaks, generatingdata onviral diseases andconductingresearch to
inform public healthpolicies.
With the long-term goal to prepare the country against public health emergencies, Pradhan
Mantri - Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) has been launched for
developing capacities of health systems and institutions. Under the scheme, four zonal National
Institutes of Virology (NIVs) at Jammu, Dibrugarh, Jabalpur and Bengaluru and National Institute
of One Health (NIOH) Nagpur have beenapproved for ICMR. SatelliteCentre of National Institute
of Translational Virology and AIDS Research (ICMR-NITVAR) Pune has also been approved.
Besides, 10 Viral Research & Diagnostic Laboratories (VRDLs) have been inducted for
upgradation to Infectious disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratories (IRDLs), and 05 VRDLs
have beeninductedfor upgradation toBiosafety Level3 (BSL-3)laboratories.
ICMR has informed that it has played a pivotal role in managing and responding to the
COVID pandemic. This included scaling up of lab capacity (1 to 3300 labs) within 18 months,
development of indigenous vaccine, COVAXIN, clinical trials of Covishield and Covavax;
validationof allkindof COVID Diagnostic tests leadingto50 timescost reduction;issuing clinical
guidance and advisories, conducting genomic sequencing, clinical trials for plasma therapy,
participating in WHO solidarity trail, conducting sero-surveys to understand population immunity
etc.
Further, ICMR has contributed significantly to the development of indigenous vaccines and
therapeutics for various infectious diseases. It has also supported field validation of in-vitro
diagnostic (IVD) devices, point-of-care testing kits, and surveillance tools that are directly and
indirectlylinkedto public healthservice delivery.
(b) to(f): ICMR has informed that under PM-ABHIM scheme, two mobile Biosafety Level 3
(BSL-3) vans called RAMBAAN (Rapid Action Mobile BSL-3+ Advanced Augmented Network)
have already been procured and deployed at National Institute of Virology (NIV) Pune and
Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC) Gorakhpur. These vans can be deployed to any
location based onoutbreak needs. Forinstance,during the Nipah virusoutbreakin September2023,
a mobile BSL-3 van was deployed to Kozhikode, where it facilitated testing of suspected samples.
Similarly, in July 2024, the van was deployed to Malappuram for outbreak response activities.
Mobile laboratories help in real time data collection that ensure quick containment and prevent
further spread of any emerging viral infections. These Mobile labs have also been used for
comprehensive training of scientific and biomedical personnel in laboratory operations and
biosafety protocols.
(g): Mobile BSL-3 Labs are highly specialized labs with costs running into several crores. They
are not required for all health institutions, however Mobile BSL-3 Labs including the one stationed
inNIVPune inMaharashtra canbe quicklydeployedwherever requiredduring the outbreaks.
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