Lok Sabha Question No. 2192 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-10
Subject: VRDL Scheme
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Dr. T. Sumathy (a) Thamizhachi Thangapandian, D. M. Kathir Anand

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.   2192 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10 TH  DECEMBER 2021

## VRDL SCHEME

## 2192.  DR. T. SUMATHY (a) THAMIZHACHI THANGAPANDIAN: SHRI D.M. KATHIR ANAND:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a)     the  detailed  list  of  Viral  Research  and  Diagnostic  Laboratories  in  Tamil  Nadu  and Puducherry under VRDL scheme;
- (b)   Whether the centre has appointed/notified principal investigators and company principal investigators for the VRDL scheme in Tamil Nadu and
- (c)    if so, the details thereof;

(d)    whether the Government has formed the Biosafety Committee as per norms of VRDL scheme; and

- (e)    if so, the composition of Committee members and their roles and responsibilities?

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY

## ANSWER WELFARE (DR. BHARATI PARVIN PAWAR)

(a), (b) & (c)   The Government has set up 10 Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratories (VRDLs) in Tamilnadu and 02 in Puducherry under the Department of Health Research's Scheme 'Setting up of nation-wide network of laboratories for managing epidemics and natural calamities'. The Principal Investigator  (PI)  and  Co-  Principal  Investigator  (Co-PI)  are  appointed  by  the  concerned  Institute wherein  the  Viral  Research  and  Diagnostic  Laboratory  (VRDL)  is  set  up.  The  details  of  Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratories (VRDLs) are attached in the Annexure.

(d) & (e)   The Scheme 'Setting up of nation-wide network of laboratories for managing epidemics and natural calamities,' under which VRDLs are set up; do not mention the constitution of Biosafety Committee.  However,  Institute  Biosafety  Committee  (IBSC)  has  been  formed  in  JIPMER  and approved by Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Govt. of India. The details of the same are given at https://www.jipmer.edu.in/research/research-committees/institutional-bio-safety-committeeibsc

## Annexure

## THE DETAILS OF VIRAL RESEARCH AND DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORIES (VRDLS) IN TAMILNADU AND PUDUCHERRY

| State      | Level of VRDL         | Name of VRDL                                                                             |
|------------|-----------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Puducherry | Regional Level        | Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry |
| Puducherry | Medical College Level | Indira Gandhi Medical College &Research Institute, Puducherry                            |
| Tamil Nadu | State Level           | Coimbatore Medical College, Coimbatore                                                   |
| Tamil Nadu | State Level           | The King Institute of Preventive Medicine and Research (KIPM&R), Chennai                 |
| Tamil Nadu | Medical College Level | Government Medical College, Theni, Tamil Nadu                                            |
| Tamil Nadu | Medical College Level | Government Medical College, Thiruvarur, Tamil Nadu                                       |
| Tamil Nadu | Medical College Level | Government Medical College, Villupuram, Tamil Nadu                                       |
| Tamil Nadu | Medical College Level | Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College, Salem                                   |
| Tamil Nadu | Medical College Level | Madras Medical College, Chennai                                                          |
| Tamil Nadu | Medical College Level | Madurai Medical College, Madurai, Tamil Nadu                                             |
| Tamil Nadu | Medical College Level | Tirunelveli Medical College, Tirunelveli                                                 |
| Tamil Nadu | Medical College Level | ICMR-National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis, Chennai                            |