By: IPP Bureau
Last updated : September 16, 2025 5:43 pm
Launches National IVD validation portal and protocols; highlights India’s strengthening health research ecosystem
In a landmark event showcasing India’s advances in medical research and diagnostics, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Anupriya Patel, today inaugurated the National Virus Research & Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL) Conclave – 2025 in the capital. The event was attended by Dr. Rajiv Bahl, Secretary, Department of Health Research (DHR) and Director General, ICMR, as well as Dr. Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi, Drug Controller General of India.
Addressing scientists from 165 VRDLs participating in the two-day conclave, the Minister lauded the DHR, ICMR, and VRDLs for their groundbreaking contributions to health research and innovation. She emphasized that every laboratory, innovation, and collaboration is a vital step towards the vision of Viksit Bharat.
Patel praised the VRDL network for serving as the nation’s sentinels during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. She recalled their critical role in sequencing the virus and validating nearly 1,700 diagnostic commodities. She noted that 16 VRDLs are now equipped with Bio-Safety Level-3 facilities, enabling them to study high-risk pathogens, and highlighted their central role in early detection of outbreaks such as Nipah, Zika, and Kyasanur Forest Disease.
The Minister also underscored the significance of the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune – the country’s only BSL-4 laboratory – and announced the establishment of four new regional NIVs in Jabalpur, Dibrugarh, Bengaluru, and Jammu under the Prime Minister’s Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission. This expansion will ensure enhanced preparedness across the nation.
Showcasing India’s progress in combating tuberculosis, Smt. Patel pointed to several innovative technologies validated by ICMR, including portable handheld X-ray machines deployed in remote areas, the AI-based DeepCXR screening tool trained on more than 75,000 chest X-ray images, the affordable CyTb skin test for latent TB detection, and PathoDetectTM for rapid molecular diagnosis. She highlighted that a modified BPaL regimen has achieved cure rates of up to 90 percent for drug-resistant TB, with fewer side effects.
In addressing tribal health challenges, the Minister referred to the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission, under which the cost of rapid diagnostic tests has been reduced from ₹300 to just ₹28 through HTAIn studies and ICMR validation. She also emphasized HTAIn’s contribution to optimizing healthcare delivery under the Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY scheme, including the revision of 855 health benefit packages based on cost data from 86 hospitals.
A key highlight of the conclave was the launch of the In-Vitro Diagnostics (IVD) Validation Portal and publicly available standard protocols, developed by ICMR in collaboration with CDSCO. Smt. Patel noted that the portal will streamline validation processes, making them faster, more transparent, and industry-friendly, while enhancing the global competitiveness of Indian diagnostics. Several VRDLs are also being upgraded to Medical Device Testing Laboratories.
The Minister also released the first VRDL Bulletin, which will enable real-time tracking of viral infections to strengthen evidence-based policymaking and optimize resource allocation by central and state governments.
Reaffirming India’s pioneering role in integrated health initiatives, Smt. Patel highlighted the launch of the National One Health Mission, which brings together 13 departments under one umbrella for the first time globally. Ten VRDLs are now part of the National BSL-3 Network under this mission, reinforcing India’s preparedness against emerging infectious diseases.
Concluding her address, Smt. Patel congratulated the Department of Health Research, ICMR, and all VRDL colleagues for their vision and dedication in building a resilient, self-reliant, and globally relevant health research ecosystem.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Rajiv Bahl emphasized that the conclave will unveil transformative initiatives to strengthen India’s capacity to respond to viral outbreaks and health emergencies, likening the VRDL network to an “impenetrable bio-defence of India.” He noted that with 164 laboratories across 26 states and 5 Union Territories, the VRDL network has been vital in responding to crises such as COVID-19, Nipah, Zika, and Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever.
Dr. Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi highlighted the unique global collaboration between CDSCO and ICMR in developing 39 standard evaluation protocols for high-risk IVDs covering diseases such as TB, Malaria, and Nipah virus. He described this as the first-of-its-kind partnership between a national regulatory authority and a research institution to create standardized global benchmarks.
At the conclave, the Union Minister also felicitated 25 top-performing VRDLs – eight in the Gold category and seventeen in the Silver category – for their outstanding contributions to disease detection and laboratory excellence.