Integrated Disease Surveillance Project (IDSP) was launched with World Bank assistance in November 2004 to detect and respond to disease outbreaks quickly. The project was extended for 2 years in March 2010. From April 2010 to March 2012, World Bank funds were available for Central Surveillance Unit (CSU) at NCDC & 9 identified states (Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Punjab, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal) and the rest 26 states/UTs were funded from domestic budget. The Programme will continue during 12th Plan under NRHM with outlay of Rs. 640.40 Crore from domestic budget only.

• Surveillance units have been established in all states/districts (SSU/DSU). Central Surveillance Unit (CSU) established and integrated in the National Centre for Disease Control, Delhi.

• Training of State/District Surveillance Teams and Rapid Response Teams (RRT) has been completed for all 35 States/UTs.

• IT network connecting 776 sites in States/District HQ and premier institutes has been established with the help of National Informatics Centre (NIC) and Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) for data entry, training, video conferencing and outbreak discussion.

• Under the project weekly disease surveillance data on epidemic prone disease are being collected from reporting units such as sub centres, primary health centres, community health centres, hospitals including  government and private sector hospitals and medical colleges.  The data are being collected on ‘S’ syndromic; ‘P’ probable; & ‘L’ laboratory formats using standard case definitions. Presently, more than 90% districts report such weekly data through e-mail/portal (www.idsp.nic.in). The weekly data are analyzed by SSU/DSU for disease trends. Whenever there is rising trend of illnesses, it is investigated by the RRT to diagnose and control the outbreak.

• States/districts have been asked to notify the outbreaks immediately to the system. On an average, 30-40 outbreaks are reported every week by the States. 553 outbreaks were reported and responded to by states in 2008, 799 outbreaks in 2009, 990 in 2010, 1675 outbreaks in 2011, 1584 outbreaks in 2012 and in 2013, 327 outbreaks have been reported till 31st March.

• Media scanning and verification cell was established under IDSP in July 2008. It detects and shares media alerts with the concerned states/districts for verification and response. A total of 2047 media alerts were reported from July 2008 to 31st March 2013. Majority of alerts were related to diarrhoeal diseases, food poisoning and vector borne diseases.

• A 24X7 call center was established in February 2008 to receive disease alerts on a Toll Free telephone number (1075). The information received is provided to the States/Districts surveillance Units for investigation and response. The call centre was extensively used during H1N1 influenza pandemic in 2009 and dengue outbreak in Delhi in 2010. 2,77,395 lakhs calls have been received from beginning till 30th June, 2012, out of which 35,866 calls were related to Influenza A H1N1. From November 2012, a total of 20,720 calls received till 31st March 2013 out of which 651 calls were related to H1N1.

• 50 identified district laboratories are being strengthened for diagnosis of epidemic prone diseases. These labs are also being supported by a contractual microbiologist to mange the lab and an annual grant of Rs 2 lakh per annum per lab for reagents and consumables. Till date 25 States (36 labs) have completed the procurement.  In addition, a network of 12 laboratories has been developed for Influenza surveillance in the country.

• In 9 States, a referral lab network has been established by utilizing the existing 65 functional labs in the medical colleges and various other major centers in the States and linking them with adjoining districts for providing diagnostic services for epidemic prone diseases during outbreaks. Based on the experience gained, the plan will be implemented in the remaining 26 States/UTs. MoU was signed with 21 identified medical college labs in Bihar, Assam, Odisha, Tripura, Kerala, Haryana and Manipur during 2012-13 to provide the support in adjoining districts.

• Considering the non-availability of health professionals in the field of Epidemiology, microbiology and Entomology at district and state levels, MOHFW approved the recruitment of trained professionals under NRHM in order to strengthen the disease surveillance and response system by placing one Epidemiologist each at state/district head quarters, one Microbiologist and Entomologist each at the state head quarters. Recruitment of 354 Epidemiologists, 60 Microbiologists and 17 Entomologists has been completed so far