New Delhi: The Ministry of Health can the task of the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) with the development of advanced technologies and diagnosis of infectious diseases, viral and bacterial.
The aim of this step is to expand India’s readiness against future pandemic and prevent infectious threats. It includes the provision of key technical and financial support for preferring pharmaceutical candidates and a number of drugs, vaccines and biological substances.
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As part of The Playbook, it will focus on supporting clinical joint development of pharmaceutical candidates, vaccines, immunoglobulins and monoclonals that directly deal with national health priorities concerning both pandemic and other infectious diseases.
The aim of this approach is to support the ecosystem of health care based on evidence. The plan was approved by the 9th mission management group (MSG) of the National Health Mission held by the Ministry of Health.
India faces a significant burden from a variety of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis (TB), malaria, dengue, chikungyuna, viral hepatitis, zika, rabies and other zoonotic diseases such as Asnipah, Kyasanur forest disease (KFD) etc. Etc.
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Depending on the minutes of the MINT, this initiative will help create test doses in accordance with quality standards in government centers, incubators and specialized manufacturing companies. In addition, the safety tests will be carried out on these products in laboratories operated by ICMR or CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research) or other research organizations, and ultimately human attempts to control safety and efficacy will be carried out at the locations of the supported ICMR.
“This decision shows that the government prefers research to solve important health problems,” the official said.
India has a high load of viral and bacterial diseases.
Last year, the country reported a stunning 2.6 million TB cases. The Lancet report from January 2022 revealed that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) directly caused 297,000 deaths in India in 2019.
In 2023, the Government Program AMR reported 142,660 AMR patients in government health facilities.
Since May 2025, the Ministry of Health announced 2,194 cases of influenza and 13 related deaths this year. By March 2025, India has already recorded 12,043 cases of dengue and six deaths.
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In addition, this year recorded a significant 30,876 cases of Chikungunya and 1,741 deaths that have been reported so far. From 1 January to 31 December 2024, India reported a total of 151 cases of viral disease Zika.
Meanwhile, since the initial focus in West Bengal in 2001, India has confirmed a total of 102 cases of Nipah virus.
In the framework of medical measurements for infectious diseases, the Ministry of Health was planned to set up a network of medical testing (MDTL) and organic tests throughout the country.
“The plan includes the establishment of 60 accredited MDTLS to carry out a license, evaluate diagnostic tests of third -party diagnostic tests.
Nikkhil K. Masurkar, CEO (CEO) of Encod Pharmaceuticals, said the pandemic served as a major awakening and stressed that the critical need for India became self -sufficient in developing instruments to combat infectious diseases, including diagnosis, biology and treatment.
Masurkar said that the step towards strengthening the position of ICMR and investing in domestic research and development (research and development) is a progressive step that will significantly strengthen the readiness of the nation. “It is essential that pharmaceutical innovators are actively integrated into this ecosystem to develop top solutions, from vaccines and monoclonals to advanced diagnostics and formulation.
Questions sent by spokesperson of the Ministry of Health remained unanswered.
(Tagstotranslate) iCMR
