President Murmu unveils foundation stone for ICMR-National Institute of Virology, South Zone at Bengaluru

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President Droupadi Murmu unveiled the foundation stone for ICMR-National Institute of Virology (NIV) Pune, South Zone at Bengaluru in virtual mode, in presence of Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Bharti Pravin Pawar on 27 September 2022.

The setting up of the zonal campus of the National Institute of Virology, Pune is part of the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM)) of the central government.

Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM))

• The  Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission
• was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi  in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh  on 25 October 2021.
• The total outlay on the scheme is Rs 64,180 Crore and the duration of the scheme is from 2021-22 to 25-26.
• The Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission is one of the largest pan-India schemes for strengthening healthcare infrastructure across the country.
• Its objective is to fill gaps in public health infrastructure, especially in critical care facilities and primary care in both urban and rural areas. 
• It will provide support for 17,788 rural health and wellness centers in 10 high-focus states. 
• Further, 11,024 urban health and wellness centers will be established in all the States.
• Under the scheme, a national institution for one health(set up in Nagpur), four new regional centers of the national institutes for virology, a regional research platform for WHO South East Asia Region, nine biosafety level-III laboratories, and five new regional national centre for disease control will be set up.
• For the first time in Asia, two container-based hospitals with comprehensive medical facilities will be kept ready at all times, which can be rapidly deployed via rail or air to deal with any disaster or calamity in the country.

National Institute of Virology (NIV)

The National Institute of Virology is one of the major Institutes of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

 It was established at Pune, Maharashtra State in 1952 as Virus Research Centre (VRC) under the auspices of the ICMR and the Rockefeller Foundation (RF), USA. Now it is fully funded by ICMR.

NIV is also the National Centre for Hepatitis and Influenza. 

NIV has been designated as one of the collaborating laboratories of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Chairman: Dr Priya Abraham