India 2018

Health and Family Welfare 301
TB Diagnostic Initiative: Truenat Rif, an indigenous, cost effective, rapid
molecular diagnostic kit for TB/MDR-TB has been developed in collaboration
with ICMR, DBT and the industry. Feasibility study is currently underway across
100 districts. Active case finding pilot project initiated in five states for bridging
gap in last mile delivery of services amongst tribal populations.
e-Health/M-Health and use of Space Technology Tools
With the changing time, ICMR is focusing its efforts on using e-Health/M-Health
and promote the use of space technology tools. ICMR has developed-a mobile
based disease surveillance system for malaria (MosQuit) using mobile platform.
This technology has been developed by RMRC, Dibrugarh in collaboration with
CDAC, Pune, which has been deployed in Tengaghat PHC of Assam. ICMR
has also developed various e-learning programmes in Health Research as well
as prepared databases like TB-Drugs, DDRTB, Food and Nutrition Database,
etc. To address the impact of climate change on human health and promote use
of space technology tools ICMR has developed an early warning system of JE
for Upper Assam, initiated studies on mapping of malaria and mosquito-genic
conditions, developed models for predicting filariasis. These efforts will be upscaled
for larger use in the coming year.
Disease Burden Estimation
State-level disease burden estimation launched at the Univ of Washington, USA
in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, to generate
state-level disease burden and risk factors estimates to improve health
programmes and planning in India.
Preparedness to handle Zika virus outbreak: ICMR-NIV established
surveillance at 25 sites in the country for Zika testing. Repeated training and
capacity building done for 25 labs + 11 IDSP labs. Four cases of Zika virus were
detected through ICMR's surveillance network (3 in Gujarat and 1 in Tamil
Nadu). Entomological surveillance for ZV also established.
National Rotavirus surveillance network (NRSN) (2012-2016): The study
carried out at 4 Major referral labs, 7 ICMR's Regional labs and 23 hospital sites
to see the trend in burden of rotavirus diarrhoea as well as impact of rotavirus
vaccine under Universal Immunization Programme.
Ayush
The Ministry of AYUSH was formed in 2014 to ensure the optimal development
and propagation of AYUSH systems of health care. Earlier it was known as
Department of Indian System of Medicine and Homoeopathy (ISM&H) which
was created in 1995 and renamed as Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and
Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy(AYUSH) in 2003, with focused
attention for development of education and research in ayurveda, yoga and