- Prof. (Dr.) Atul Goel
- DGHS & Chairman
- National Council for Clinical Establishment
As an acknowledgement of its contribution towards surveillance of communicable disease, NCDC has now become WHO collaborating Centre for Rabies Epidemiology and Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio both for Southeast Asia Regional, National Reference Laboratory for HIV/AIDS, Diagnosis of Iodine deficiency, Testing of Insecticides to name a few.
In view of emerging and re-emerging pathogens and the need for country-wide disease outbreak investigation and response (as well as obligations under IHR 2005), it was considered necessary to expand mandate of NCDC to meet broader challenges in public health on the pattern of CDC, USA with rationale for development and strengthening of referral diagnostic support services, capacity building in public health, adoption of new technologies, as well as study the impact of climate change, urbanization and industrialization on disease.
Echoing with the global voice acknowledging importance of One health, India has stepped forward to insure integration of One Health approach as an inbuilt principle in its national programmes – The National One Health Program for Prevention and Control of Zoonoses, National Programme on Climate Change & Human Health Programme, National Program for AMR containment. NCDC is the nodal agency for implementation of these programmes and has taken lead in initiating and strengthening Inter-Sectoral Coordination among all stakeholders.