The swift and effective response of Nagpur's Metropolitan Surveillance Unit (MSU) during a recent cough syrup tragedy has been held up as a national benchmark for urban disease control. This recognition came during a high-level national review meeting of 20 MSUs held in Nagpur on Tuesday.
National Meeting Reviews Urban Health Surveillance
The two-day review meeting is being organized by the Central Surveillance Unit (CSU) and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). It falls under the ambit of two major national initiatives: the Prime Minister–Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) and the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP). The first day of the conclave focused on evaluating the performance of various MSUs, pinpointing operational challenges, and documenting successful strategies to bolster disease surveillance in India's metropolitan areas.
Nagpur's Model: Coordination and Digital Tracking
Officials from the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) revealed that their MSU's handling of the cough syrup incident was presented as a best practice case study. A senior NMC medical officer explained to TOI that the unit was commended for its rapid alert generation, seamless coordination with both government and private hospitals, and immediate information sharing with authorities in Delhi. This prompt action enabled faster regulatory intervention.
The officer further stated that Nagpur's established disease monitoring systems for vector-borne diseases like dengue and malaria were also discussed. These systems, powered by digital tracking tools and real-time data sharing mechanisms, represent a modern approach to public health surveillance.
Challenges and the Road Ahead
While success stories were shared, the meeting also served as a platform to address common hurdles. Several MSUs reported ongoing difficulties related to staff recruitment and infrastructure limitations. These challenges were formally noted during the review sessions to inform future policy and support.
The meeting saw the presence of key officials including NMC commissioner Abhijeet Chaudhari, additional commissioners Vasumana Pant and Saurabh Jain, and senior officers from the Union health ministry. From the NCDC, director Dr. Ranjan Das, additional director Dr. Himanshu Chauhan, and joint director Dr. Shubhangi Kulsange were present. NMC medical health officer Dr. Deepak Selokar also attended, alongside other senior state and central health officials.
The national meet is scheduled to conclude on Wednesday. The agenda includes field visits and the crucial task of formulating a national roadmap aimed at significantly strengthening urban disease surveillance and response mechanisms across the country.
