Punjab signs agreement with NCDC to boost disease surveillance and outbreak response

Chandigarh: The Punjab health department has signed an agreement with the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to establish a state branch at the community health centre (CHC) of Manawala in Amritsar district for improved disease surveillance and outbreak investigation.

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was formalised at Punjab Bhawan between principal secretary for health Kumar Rahul and Dr Amarjeet Kaur, senior regional director at the health and family welfare ministry, in the presence of Punjab health minister Dr Balbir Singh, who said the collaboration would not only enhance Punjab’s disease surveillance system and improve outbreak investigation capabilities but also facilitate a rapid response to communicable diseases such as cholera and diarrhoea.

The minister said: “With increasing population and the rise of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, upgrading public health infrastructure is crucial. This partnership will allow Punjab to integrate advanced disease control expertise directly into its healthcare system.”

He said lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic underscored the need for proactive public health strategies. The NCDC’s Punjab branch will play a key role in strengthening integrated disease surveillance, improving disaster preparedness, and ensuring swift containment of outbreaks. The facility will also provide logistical support, including the storage and distribution of diagnostic kits, medicines, vaccines, and personal protective equipment (PPE). Additionally, it will focus on capacity building for healthcare personnel to better equip them for future health challenges.