What is the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP)?

July 28, 2024

A total of 1,862 disease outbreaks were reported to the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme last year, with the highest number being reported from Kerala, the Lok Sabha was informed recently.

About Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP):

It is a decentralized, state-based surveillance programme in the country.
It was launched with World Bank assistance in November 2004 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
Objectives: To strengthen/maintain a decentralized laboratory-based IT enabled disease surveillance system for epidemic-prone diseases to monitor disease trends and to detect and respond to outbreaks in the early rising phase through trained Rapid Response Teams (RRTs).
Programme Components:
- Integration and decentralization of surveillance activities through the establishment of surveillance units at the Centre, State, and District levels.
- Human Resource Development: Training of State Surveillance Officers, District Surveillance Officers, RRT, and other medical and paramedical staff on principles of disease surveillance.
- Use of Information Communication Technology for collection, collation, compilation, analysis, and dissemination of data.
- Strengthening of public health laboratories.
- Inter sectoral coordination for zoonotic diseases.
Data Management:
- Under IDSP, data is collected on epidemic-prone diseases on a weekly basis (Monday–Sunday).
- The information is collected in three specified reporting formats, namely “S” (suspected cases), “P” (presumptive cases), and “L” (laboratory confirmed cases), filled by Health Workers, Clinicians, and Laboratory staff, respectively.
- IDSP receives disease outbreak reports from the States/UTs on a weekly basis. Even NIL weekly reporting is mandated, and compilation of disease outbreaks/alerts is done on a weekly basis.
- The weekly data gives information on the disease trends and seasonality of diseases.
- Whenever there is a rising trend of illnesses in any area, it is investigated by the RRTs to diagnose and control the outbreak.
- Data analysis and actions are being undertaken by respective State/District Surveillance Units.