Government plans to wind down National Polio Surveillance Network centres in India

Context

The National Polio Surveillance Network is a nationwide system of surveillance units and laboratories that work to identify and investigate cases of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP)—a key indicator of potential polio infection—especially in children under 15.

Proposed Phased Wind Down of NPSN

The National Polio Surveillance Network (NPSN), established by the World Health Organization (WHO), currently comprises over 280 units across India.
The government plans a gradual reduction: from about 280 units in 2024-25, down to 190 in 2025-26, and further to 140 in 2026-27. This phase-out will be linked to a corresponding reduction in financial support and aims to integrate polio surveillance into the Integrated Diseases Surveillance Programme (IDSP).

Background and Importance of NPSN: India was declared polio-free in 2014 after no wild polio virus cases were reported for three years. This success followed extensive oral polio immunisation (OPV) campaigns and coordinated efforts from multiple organisations.

The NPSN has played a crucial role in detecting and preventing polio resurgence and has also expanded its functions to survey measles, rubella, DPT (diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus), and child vaccination programs.

Role of WHO and National Health Agencies

The NPSN operates under the WHO’s global polio eradication initiative, aligning with India’s health
The Integrated Diseases Surveillance Programme (IDSP), a government initiative, is proposed to absorb polio surveillance functions to streamline resources.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and other stakeholders are yet to provide detailed responses regarding the downsizing plan.

Issues and Implications

The proposal comes amid global resurgence of polio, highlighting a mismatch between international health trends and national policy shifts.
Concerns over the potential impact on public health, specifically regarding vaccine-preventable diseases surveillance and control.
Job insecurity for NPSN staff who also contribute to other vaccination-related programs could affect human resource capacity in disease surveillance.
Premature phasing out may undermine India’s hard-won polio-free status and could complicate efforts aligned with the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) and WHO’s Endgame Strategy.

Conclusion

Phasing down the National Polio Surveillance Network (NPSN) risks weakening India’s disease surveillance at a time of global polio resurgence. While integrating it with the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme may improve efficiency, doing so prematurely could undermine polio-free gains, disrupt broader immunization efforts, and affect skilled staff. A careful, well-planned transition is essential to protect public health progress.