Government of India Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) Department of Health & Family Welfare
Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) - Government of India
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Brief History

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Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) was launched with World Bank assistance in November 2004 to detect and respond to disease outbreaks quickly. The project was extended for 2 years in March 2010 i.e. from April 2010 to March 2012, World Bank funds were available for Central Surveillance Unit (CSU) at NCDC & 9 identified states (Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Punjab, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal) and the rest 26 states/UTs were funded from domestic budget. The Programme continues during 12th Plan (2012-17) under NHM with outlay of Rs. 640 Crore from domestic budget only.

    • Surveillance units have been established in all states/districts (SSU/DSU). Central Surveillance Unit (CSU) established and integrated in the National Centre for Disease Control, Delhi.
    • Training of State/District Surveillance Teams and Rapid Response Teams (RRT) has been completed for all 35 States/UTs.
    • IT network connecting 776 sites in States/District HQ and premier institutes has been established with the help of National Informatics Centre (NIC) and Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) for data entry, training, video conferencing and outbreak discussion.
    • Under the project weekly disease surveillance data on epidemic prone disease are being collected from reporting units such as sub centres, primary health centres, community health centres, hospitals including  government and private sector hospitals and medical colleges.  The data are being collected on ‘S’ syndromic; ‘P’ probable; & ‘L’ laboratory formats using standard case definitions. Presently, more than 90% districts report such weekly data through e-mail/portal (www.idsp.nic.in). The weekly data are analyzed by SSU/DSU for disease trends. Whenever there is rising trend of illnesses, it is investigated by the RRT to diagnose and control the outbreak.
    • States/districts have been asked to notify the outbreaks immediately to the system. On an average, 30-40 outbreaks are reported every week by the States. 553 outbreaks were reported and responded to by states in 2008, 799 outbreaks in 2009, 990 in 2010, 1675 outbreaks in 2011, 1584 outbreaks in 2012, 1964 outbreaks in 2013, 1562 outbreaks in 2014 and 311 outbreaks have been reported till 15th March 2015.
    • Media scanning and verification cell was established under IDSP in July 2008. It detects and shares media alerts with the concerned states/districts for verification and response. A total of 3063 media alerts were reported from July 2008 to November 2014 and 122 till 31st March 2015. Majority of alerts were related to diarrhoeal diseases, food poisoning and vector borne diseases.
    • A 24X7 call center was established in February 2008 to receive disease alerts on a Toll Free telephone number (1075). The information received is provided to the States/Districts surveillance Units for investigation and response. The call centre was extensively used during H1N1 influenza pandemic in 2009 and dengue outbreak in Delhi in 2010. 2,77,395 lakhs calls have been received from beginning till 30th June, 2012, out of which 35,866 calls were related to Influenza A H1N1. From November 2012, a total of 50,811 calls received till November 2013 out of which 1499 calls were related to H1N1.
    • District laboratories are being strengthened for diagnosis of epidemic prone diseases. These labs are also being supported by a contractual microbiologist to mange the lab and an annual grant of Rs 2 lakh per annum per lab for reagents and consumables. Till date 29 States (65 labs) have completed the procurement.  In addition, a network of 12 laboratories has been developed for Influenza surveillance in the country.
    • In 9 States, a referral lab network has been established by utilizing the existing 65 functional labs in the medical colleges and various other major centers in the States and linking them with adjoining districts for providing diagnostic services for epidemic prone diseases during outbreaks. Based on the experience gained, the plan will be implemented in the remaining 26 States/UTs. A total of 23 identified medical college labs in Bihar, Assam, Odisha, Tripura, Kerala, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir and Manipur has been added to the network during 2012-13 to provide support in adjoining districts.

Considering the non-availability of health professionals in the field of Epidemiology, microbiology and Entomology at district and state levels, MOHFW approved the recruitment of trained professionals under NHM in order to strengthen the disease surveillance and response system by placing one Epidemiologist each at state/district head quarters, one Microbiologist and Entomologist each at the state head quarters. The post of a Veterinary Consultant at State Surveillance Unit has been approved by the MOHFW recognizing the Mission Statement of One Health Initiative. 408 Epidemiologists, 181 Microbiologists, 25 Entomologists and 3 Veterinary Consultants are in position as on 31st March 2015.