Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Anupriya Patel, inaugurated the National Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL) Conclave 2025 in Delhi. The event was attended by Dr Rajiv Bahl, Secretary, Department of Health Research (DHR) and Director General, ICMR, and Dr Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi, Drug Controller General of India.
Patel acknowledged the collaborations and contributions of DHR, ICMR, and VRDLs, stating that “each laboratory, each innovation, each collaboration contributes to the vision of Viksit Bharat.”
Addressing scientists from 165 VRDLs across the country during the two-day conclave, Patel said VRDLs played a key role during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. She noted their role in sequencing the virus and validating nearly 1,700 diagnostic commodities. She also shared that sixteen VRDLs are equipped with Bio-Safety Level-3 facilities to study high-risk pathogens and highlighted their contribution in early detection of outbreaks of Nipah, Zika, and Kyasanur Forest Disease.
Patel also emphasised the role of the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, India’s only BSL-4 laboratory, and informed that under the Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission, four new regional NIVs are being established in Jabalpur, Dibrugarh, Bangalore, and Jammu.
The Minister shared progress made in tuberculosis (TB) management with innovations validated by ICMR, including portable handheld X-ray machines, the AI-based DeepCXR tool, the CyTb skin test priced at ₹199, and PathoDetectTM for molecular diagnosis. She also cited a modified BPaL regimen trial showing up to 90 percent cure rates for drug-resistant TB.
On addressing tribal health challenges, Patel referred to the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission. She highlighted the reduction of rapid diagnostic test costs from ₹300 to ₹28 through cost-effectiveness studies by HTAIn and ICMR validation.
Patel also underlined HTAIn’s role in revising 855 health benefit packages under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, based on data from 86 hospitals. She noted ICMR’s collaboration with CDSCO to develop protocols for in-vitro diagnostics (IVDs) and announced that several VRDLs are being upgraded to Medical Device Testing Laboratories.
Releasing the In-Vitro Diagnostics validation portal and protocols, Patel said, “the new IVD validation portal launched today will facilitate faster, more transparent, and industry-friendly validation processes.” She also released the first VRDL Bulletin, stating that “this will enable real-time tracking of viral infections to improve resource allocation by both state and central governments.”
Patel highlighted the National One Health Mission, bringing 13 departments under one framework, with ten VRDLs now part of a National BSL-3 Network. She concluded by congratulating DHR, ICMR, and VRDL teams.
Dr Rajiv Bahl said the conclave would unveil initiatives to strengthen responses to viral outbreaks and health emergencies. He stated, “just like India’s air defence was impenetrable during the recent Operation Sindoor, the VRDL network will also act as an impenetrable bio-defence of India.” With 164 laboratories across 26 states and five Union Territories, he said the VRDL network contributes to early detection, swift diagnosis, and prompt responses to diseases such as Nipah, Zika, Kyasanur Forest Disease, and COVID-19.
Dr Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi said CDSCO and ICMR have jointly developed 39 standard evaluation protocols for high-risk IVDs, covering diseases including TB, Malaria, and Nipah Virus. He noted this initiative as the first of its kind globally between a National Regulatory Authority and a National Research Institute.
During the conclave, Patel awarded 25 top-performing VRDLs, with eight in the Gold category and 17 in the Silver category, recognising their contributions to disease detection and laboratory excellence.
The Gold category awardees included Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College (Salem, Tamil Nadu), Government Medical College (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra), Government Medical College (Amritsar, Punjab), ICMR-Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (Patna, Bihar), Sawai Man Singh Medical College (Jaipur, Rajasthan), Gauhati Medical College (Assam), Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (Puducherry), and All India Institute of Medical Sciences (Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh).
The Silver category awardees included Dr Vaishampayan Memorial Government Medical College (Solapur, Maharashtra), AIIMS Nagpur, Kasturba Hospital for Infectious Diseases (Mumbai), Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education & Research (Kolkata), Zoram Medical College (Mizoram), Government Medical College (Surat), Government Medical College (Miraj), GS Medical College & KEM Hospital (Mumbai), Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and ABVIMS (New Delhi), Madurai Medical College, Tirunelveli Medical College, Armed Forces Medical College (Pune), AIIMS Bhubaneswar, King George’s Medical University (Lucknow), King Institute of Preventive Medicine and Research (Chennai), ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre (Dibrugarh, Assam), and AIIMS New Delhi.
The quarterly VRDL Bulletin launched will track pathogen trends, seasonal patterns, and outbreak dynamics for policymakers. The IVD validation portal will provide manufacturers with a transparent, real-time system to apply for validation and monitor progress.
Senior officials from the Union Health Ministry, ICMR, DHR, doctors, and researchers from medical colleges and VRDLs across the country attended the event.