A two-day National Review Meeting of Metropolitan Surveillance Units (MSUs) was held in Nagpur from 6–7 January 2026 under the theme “Proactive Surveillance, Protected Cities.” The meeting brought together representatives from 20 Tier-I and Tier-II cities to review progress and further strengthen urban disease surveillance systems across the country.
Senior Leadership and Key Stakeholders Participate
The meeting was attended by Shri Saurabh Jain, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, and Dr. Ranjan Das, Director, National Centre for Disease Control.
Participants included Municipal Commissioners and senior municipal officials from cities such as Hyderabad, Shimla, Nagpur, Patna, and Bhopal, along with MSU Nodal Officers from States and Municipal Corporations, officials from MoHFW and NCDC, and other key public health stakeholders.
Focus on Early Warning and Rapid Response
Deliberations centred on:
-
Strengthening early warning systems for disease detection
-
Ensuring timely and coordinated public health response
-
Enhancing urban preparedness for outbreaks and health emergencies
Technical sessions featured:
-
A case presentation by Nagpur MSU on investigation and response to an AES (Acute Encephalitis Syndrome) outbreak
-
Sharing of best practices by operational MSUs
-
Review of progress made by priority MSUs across cities
Scientific and Multisectoral Collaboration
A dedicated scientific session on “MSUs – A Strategic Investment in Urban Disease Surveillance” highlighted the importance of collaborative surveillance and multisectoral coordination.
Experts from institutions and organisations including ICMR, AIIMS Nagpur, World Bank, PATH, DAHD, wildlife sector representatives, Government Veterinary College Nagpur, APHO Nagpur, and professional bodies such as IMA and IAP participated in the discussions, reinforcing the One Health and all-hazard approach to public health.
All-Hazard Preparedness and City Emergency Planning
Participants were briefed on the All-Hazard Preparedness Framework and were enabled to develop City Emergency Response Plans, aimed at improving readiness and coordination during public health emergencies in urban settings.
Conclusion
The National MSU Review Meeting concluded with a strong consensus on the need to deepen collaborative disease surveillance, strengthen early detection mechanisms, and ensure coordinated, rapid response to public health threats. The discussions reaffirmed the goal of building safe, resilient, and well-prepared cities, capable of effectively managing current and emerging health challenges.
For more real-time updates, visit Channel 6 Network.
Source: PIB
