Patna: Patna Municipal Corporation is set to establish a Metropolitan Surveillance Unit in a move aimed at strengthening and modernising the city’s public health system.
A tripartite memorandum of understanding has been signed between the Patna Municipal Corporation, the government of Bihar and the Government of India to operationalise the unit. Officials described the initiative as a significant step towards improving disease surveillance, control and rapid response in urban areas.
The proposed unit will comprise a 17-member team of specialists, each operating through a dedicated login-based system. The team will include a public health specialist, microbiologist, food safety officer, veterinary doctor, trained technician and entomologist, among others.
The unit will monitor approximately 40 infectious diseases, alongside food safety concerns and waterborne and zoonotic illnesses. Data gathered from government and private hospitals will be scientifically analysed to identify trends and potential outbreaks.
Information collected by the unit will be uploaded in real time to the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP), the Centre’s official disease surveillance portal. Authorities say this will enable early detection of emerging health threats, allowing for timely intervention and more effective containment measures.
As part of the infrastructure upgrade, a Biosafety Level-2 (BSL-2) laboratory will be established under the surveillance unit. A health emergency operations system is also planned, designed to generate reports and coordinate responses during outbreaks or public health crises.
Officials said the initiative is intended to strengthen Patna’s urban health framework and ensure a coordinated response during emergencies. Work to operationalise the unit is currently under way, with authorities aiming to complete the process within the stipulated timeframe.
