New Delhi, Sep 11
The 164 National Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratories (VRDLs) are sentinels that are protecting India from viruses and pathogens, said Anupriya Patel, Union Minister of State for Health, on Thursday.
Speaking at the National VRDL Conclave 2025 in New Delhi, Patel highlighted that pandemic preparedness and VRDLs are part of a larger nationwide ecosystem of health research and innovation.
“Our VRDLs have stood as sentinels in protecting the country during the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond. The focus is on detecting new bacteria, viruses, and pathogens, and on India’s progress in diagnostics," Patel said.
The MoS acknowledged the key role played by these laboratories in sequencing the virus and validating nearly 1,700 diagnostic commodities.
“VRDLs have been central to early detection of outbreaks of Nipah, Zika, and Kyasanur Forest Disease,†Patel said, while noting that 16 of these VRDLs are now equipped with Bio-Safety Level 3 facilities to study high-risk pathogens.
The Union Minister also released the In-Vitro Diagnostics (IVD) validation portal and protocols and exuded confidence that “the new IVD validation portal launched today will facilitate faster, more transparent, and industry-friendly validation processes.â€
As part of strengthening evidence-based policymaking, Patel released the first VRDL Bulletin. She stated that “this will enable real-time tracking of viral infections to improve resource allocation by both state and central governmentsâ€.
Further, Dr Rajiv Bahl, Director General, ICMR stated that the two-day conclave will unveil transformative initiatives aimed at strengthening the nation’s ability to respond effectively to viral outbreaks, emerging infections, and other health emergencies, while reinforcing the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
“Just like India’s air defence was impenetrable during the recent Operation Sindoor, the VRDL network will also act as an impenetrable biodefence of India,†he said.
“With 164 laboratories across 26 states and 5 Union Territories, the VRDL network acts as a vital safeguard, enabling early detection, swift diagnosis, and prompt response to infectious diseases. Its exemplary contributions during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as outbreaks like Nipah, Kyasanur Forest Disease, Zika, and Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever, have significantly strengthened India’s disease surveillance and emergency response mechanisms,†he further stated.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Great initiative but I hope these facilities are equally distributed across all states, especially in rural areas. Healthcare shouldn't be limited to metro cities only.
The IVD validation portal is a game-changer! Faster approvals mean quicker access to diagnostics for common people. This is what Atmanirbhar Bharat should look like - self-reliance in healthcare technology 💪
As someone who works in public health, I appreciate the focus on evidence-based policymaking. The VRDL Bulletin for real-time tracking is exactly what we need for better resource allocation. Hope this gets implemented effectively!
‎16 BSL-3 labs is good progress but we need more. Countries like US and China have hundreds. We should invest more in research infrastructure if we want to be truly prepared for future health emergencies.
Remember how VRDLs helped during Nipah outbreaks in Kerala? They literally saved thousands of lives. These silent warriors deserve more recognition and funding. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.