NCDC vs The Lancet Study on MDRO Colonisation in India
Context
An international study published in THE LANCET reported that over 50% of Indian patients hospitalised for a specific gastrointestinal procedure showed colonisation with at least one Multidrug-Resistant Organism (MDRO).
The study warned of a rapidly escalating superbug crisis in India and called it a global threat.
NCDC’s Response
The NATIONAL CENTRE FOR DISEASE CONTROL (NCDC) strongly refuted the findings.
Key Points from NCDC:
Colonisation ≠ Infection
Colonisation means the presence of MDROs in the body without causing disease.
Therefore, colonisation is a microbiological finding, not a clinical failure.
Study Population Not Representative
The data pertains to specific high-risk clinical groups, not general hospital admissions.
Hence, the findings cannot be generalised for all Indian patients or the general population.
Misinterpretation Risk
NCDC emphasised that the study could misrepresent India’s national AMR burden if taken out of context.
ERCP:
Endoscopic procedure used for diagnosing and treating conditions of the gall-bladder, bile duct, and pancreas.
Patients undergoing ERCP form a high-risk category due to underlying illness and frequent antibiotic exposure.
Significance of the Issue
Why AMR Findings Matter:
MDRO colonisation raises risk of:
Complications during invasive procedures
Post-procedural infections
High-cost treatments and longer hospital stays
Why NCDC Objects:
National AMR strategies must rely on:
Representative, population-level surveillance
Distinction between colonisation and infection
Overgeneralisation may create public panic and distort policy direction.
Broader Implications
India acknowledges AMR as a major health challenge but insists on:
Accurate epidemiological methods
Context-specific interpretation
Highlights need for:
Expanded antimicrobial stewardship
Strengthened surveillance under NATIONAL AMR ACTION PLAN (NAP-AMR)
NATIONAL CENTRE FOR DISEASE CONTROL (NCDC)
Overview
NCDC (formerly NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASES) functions under the DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF HEALTH SERVICES (DGHS), MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (MOHFW).
Headquarters: New Delhi.
Established: JULY 1963 as the NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASES to strengthen epidemiological research and communicable disease control.
Current role: Surveillance, prevention, detection, control, and research on communicable diseases in India.
Historical Evolution
Origin
1909: Began as Central Malaria Bureau, Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh.
1938: Renamed Malaria Institute of India.
1963: Reorganised and renamed National Institute of Communicable Diseases.
2008: Further upgraded and renamed National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
Branch Network
NCDC operates nine branches across India to support state governments in public health management:
Alwar
Bengaluru
Trivandrum
Calicut
Coonoor
Jagdalpur
Patna
Rajahmundry
Varanasi
These branches provide technical advice, outbreak surveillance, training, and field support.
Role and Mandate
Epidemiological investigations
Public health surveillance
Disease outbreak detection and response
Laboratory support and referral lab functions
Training of public health workforce
Providing state-level technical assistance
Research in communicable disease epidemiology
Global Disease Detection (GDD) Program
A collaborative initiative between NCDC and the CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION (CDC), USA.
A Global Disease Detection Regional Center (GDDRC) has been set up in New Delhi.
Objectives:
Strengthen surveillance for infectious diseases in India and South Asia.
Develop the Indian Epidemiological Intelligence System (EIS).
Enhance outbreak detection, laboratory capacity, and emergency response capabilities.
Position NCDC as a regional nodal agency for public health in South Asia.
Prelims Practice MCQs
Q. With reference to the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), how many of the following statements are correct?
It acts as the nodal agency for disease surveillance and outbreak response in India.
It monitors trends in Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and promotes responsible antibiotic use.
It functions under the administrative control of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
[A] Only one
[B] Only two
[C] All three
[D] None
Correct Answer: [B] Only two
Explanation
Statement 1 — Correct
The NCDC is the primary nodal agency for disease surveillance, epidemiological investigations, and outbreak response in India.
Statement 2 — Correct
NCDC monitors AMR trends through national surveillance programmes and supports rational antibiotic-use strategies under the National AMR Action Plan.
Statement 3 — Incorrect
NCDC does not function under ICMR.
It is under the DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF HEALTH SERVICES (DGHS), MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE.
Q. With reference to the Global Disease Detection (GDD) Program, consider the following statements:
It is a collaboration between NCDC and the CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION (CDC), USA.
The Global Disease Detection Regional Center (GDDRC) is located in Mumbai.
The programme aims to strengthen infectious-disease surveillance in India and South Asia.
How many of the above statements are correct?
[A] Only one
[B] Only two
[C] All three
[D] None
Correct Answer: [B] Only two
Explanation:
Statements 1 and 3 are correct.
Statement 2 is incorrect — the GDDRC is located in New Delhi, not Mumbai.