Question : NCDC

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) the number of National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) branches across the country;

(b) whether the NCDC is facing a staff crunch along with the lack of infrastructure for expansion of its laboratories/buildings, if so, the details thereof and the steps taken in this regard;

(c) whether the Government has any proposals to strengthen the NCDC by increasing the staff, modernisation of laboratories/ buildings etc.; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

(a): National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) is based in Delhi and has, at present, 8 branches as under:
1. Alwar (Rajasthan)
2. Bengaluru (Karnataka)
3. Coonoor (Tamil Nadu)
4. Jagdalpur (Chattisgarh)
5. Kozhikode (Kerala)
6. Patna (Bihar)
7. Rajahmundry (Andhra Pradesh)
8. Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh)
(b): No.
(c) & (d): The Standing Finance Committee (SFC) on 24.04.2015 has approved the proposal for “Establishment of 30 branches (including 8 existing branches) of NCDC in all States and one UT of India” for a total outlay of Rs.367.60 crore to be implemented in phased manner as per availability of land and funds. While establishing the branches, priority will be given to the States where lab/rapid response facilities to respond to outbreak/public health emergencies are inadequate.
All State Governments through Director of Health Services of each State have been requested to provide approximate 2-3 acres of land free of cost for setting up of NCDC branch.
The project “Upgradation of NCDC” has been approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) in 2010. This includes increase the manpower, infrastructure, lab and equipment etc. 114 new posts have been created. Funds have been approved for machinery & equipment.