MoS Health reviews NCDC activities

During her visit at the Strategic Health Operations Centre (SHOC), Patel also reviewed the Seasonal Influenza (H1N1) status of Rajasthan, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh through video conferencing.

"Anupriya Patel reviewed the activities of NCDC and issued necessary directions for disease surveillance, monitoring of health status, educating the public, providing evidence for public health action and enforcing public health regulations," an official statement said.

Patel said that the National Health Policy 2017 envisages a greater role of preventive and promotive aspects than curative and "NCDC could play a pivotal role" in this.

In her remarks, Patel talked about NITI AYOG's vision document (2017-18 to 2019-20) that suggests that the NCDC can act as a focal point with greater authority and resources for disease surveillance, monitoring of health status, educating the public, providing evidence for public health action and enforcing public health regulations.

She also instructed the NCDC faculty to be in touch with the state health authorities and make field visits to monitor the working of the NCDC branches.