{"id":49466,"date":"2025-06-04T15:53:56","date_gmt":"2025-06-04T10:23:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=49466"},"modified":"2025-06-06T16:09:52","modified_gmt":"2025-06-06T10:39:52","slug":"india-plans-gradual-phase-out-of-national-polio-surveillance-network","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/india-plans-gradual-phase-out-of-national-polio-surveillance-network\/","title":{"rendered":"India Plans Gradual Phase-Out of National Polio Surveillance Network"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>National Polio Surveillance Network Transition Latest News<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>The government has proposed to wind down, in phases, the World Health Organization (WHO)-established National Polio Surveillance Network (NPSN), currently a countrywide network of over 200 units.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Introduction<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>India, having achieved polio-free status in 2014, is now moving to gradually scale down the National Polio Surveillance Network (NPSN), a vast network of field units that played a pivotal role in this milestone.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>The plan, led by the Government of India in collaboration with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/world-health-organisation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>World Health Organization<\/strong><\/a><strong>\u00a0(WHO)<\/strong>, aims to phase out the network and integrate polio surveillance into broader public health surveillance mechanisms.<\/li>\n<li>However, public health experts and field staff have raised alarm over the decision, citing continuing polio cases in neighbouring countries, risk of vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) transmission, and the importance of maintaining robust disease surveillance systems.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>About the National Polio Surveillance Network (NPSN)<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Established in collaboration with WHO, the NPSN began functioning in the late 1990s to detect, monitor, and eliminate polio from India.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>It includes over 280 surveillance units nationwide and works closely with public health departments, immunization campaigns, and global partners.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Achievements of NPSN:<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Played a vital role in India being declared polio-free in 2014.<\/li>\n<li>Detected and responded to poliovirus transmission rapidly, preventing outbreaks.<\/li>\n<li>Expanded to support surveillance for other vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, rubella, and DPT.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Phased Drawdown and Transition<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>According to a communication from WHO\u2019s representative in India, the NPSN will begin its transition from June 2025.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>The number of functioning units is expected to reduce from:\n<ul>\n<li>280 in FY 2024-25<\/li>\n<li>To 190 in FY 2025-26<\/li>\n<li>And finally 140 by FY 2026-27<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>This reduction coincides with a proportional cut in financial support. While the WHO and government officials have clarified that surveillance will not be compromised, the responsibility is expected to shift to the\u00a0<strong>Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme<\/strong>\u00a0(IDSP).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Expert Concerns on Premature Transition<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Prominent virologists and immunisation experts have warned against such a move at this stage, describing the decision as \u201chorrifying\u201d and &#8220;too early&#8221; given the global context.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Key Concerns Raised:<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Proximity to Polio-Endemic Countries:<\/strong>\u00a0Afghanistan and Pakistan continue to report cases of wild poliovirus.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Risk of Vaccine-Derived Poliovirus (VDPV):<\/strong>\u00a0Since India stopped immunisation against type 2 poliovirus in 2016, an importation of VDPV could lead to rapid community transmission.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Need for Injectable Polio Vaccine (IPV):<\/strong>\u00a0Experts recommend a phased withdrawal of Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) after replacing it with IPV for a year to prevent future outbreaks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Impact on Public Health Workforce<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>The surveillance network employs thousands of health workers. Staff members working under Special Services Agreements have expressed apprehension regarding job security.<\/li>\n<li>Each centre employs around four workers, and with over 200 units scheduled for closure, the drawdown could impact hundreds of livelihoods.<\/li>\n<li>Additionally, since 2014, the NPSN units have expanded roles beyond polio to include:\n<ul>\n<li>Monitoring measles and rubella outbreaks<\/li>\n<li>Supporting DPT vaccination campaigns<\/li>\n<li>Conducting field training for new vaccine rollouts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Experts fear the dismantling of these units could undermine years of progress in broader immunisation and disease surveillance programs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Balancing Transition with Vigilance<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>The WHO has clarified that the transition will not be abrupt. Units will be retired in phases, allowing government systems to absorb the surveillance duties progressively.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>However, stakeholders insist that India must ensure no gaps emerge in surveillance during this restructuring.<\/li>\n<li>As India prepares to subsume polio surveillance within IDSP, the effectiveness of this integration remains to be seen. The situation calls for:\n<ul>\n<li>Continued international collaboration and risk assessment.<\/li>\n<li>Adequate financial and logistical support to the IDSP.<\/li>\n<li>Transparent roadmap for IPV integration and OPV phase-out.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Conclusion<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>The Government\u2019s decision to gradually phase out the National Polio Surveillance Network, though part of a long-term vision to integrate public health monitoring systems, has stirred concern among public health experts.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>Given ongoing polio transmission in nearby countries and the threat of vaccine-derived strains, India must tread cautiously.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>Robust surveillance must continue to prevent any reversal of its hard-earned polio-free status.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>National Polio Surveillance Network Transition FAQs<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Q1.\u00a0<\/strong>What is the National Polio Surveillance Network (NPSN)?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ans.<\/strong>\u00a0The NPSN is a WHO-established network of over 280 surveillance units across India that helped achieve polio-free status.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q2.\u00a0<\/strong>Why is the government planning to wind down the NPSN?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ans.<\/strong>\u00a0The government aims to integrate polio surveillance into broader health systems like the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q3.\u00a0<\/strong>What concerns have experts raised about this move?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ans.<\/strong>\u00a0Experts warn of premature dismantling due to polio cases in neighboring countries and the risk of vaccine-derived poliovirus outbreaks.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q4.<\/strong>\u00a0What roles do NPSN units perform beyond polio monitoring?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ans.<\/strong>\u00a0They support surveillance of measles, rubella, DPT, child vaccination, and training of health workers for new vaccine rollouts.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q5.\u00a0<\/strong>When will the transition of NPSN units begin?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ans.<\/strong>\u00a0The phased transition will start from June 2025 and continue through 2026\u201327.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Source:\u00a0<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/sci-tech\/health\/government-plans-to-wind-down-national-polio-surveillance-network-centres-in-india\/article69653654.ece#:~:text=The%20transition%20involves%20a%20gradual,government%2C%20according%20to%20the%20communique.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">TH<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>India is set to wind down the WHO-established National Polio Surveillance Network (NPSN) in phases, sparking concerns among experts about preparedness and public health safety.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":49232,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[60,725,22,59],"class_list":{"0":"post-49466","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-upsc-mains-current-affairs","8":"tag-mains-articles","9":"tag-national-polios-surveillance-network-transition","10":"tag-upsc-current-affairs","11":"tag-upsc-mains-current-affairs","12":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49466","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=49466"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49466\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/49232"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=49466"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=49466"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=49466"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}