Indian government is preparing to gradually phase out the National Polio Surveillance Network (NPSN), a nationwide system established by the World Health Organization comprising over 200 units. The move, officials say, is part of a planned transition, but public health experts and staff are calling it premature, especially given the continuing presence of polio in neighboring countries.
A letter from the WHO’s representative in India, Dr. Roderico H. Ofrin, informed NPSN personnel about the upcoming changes. The phase-out is scheduled to begin in June, with the number of units being reduced from 280 in 2024-25 to 190 the following year, and down to 140 by 2026-27. The government is also expected to reduce its financial support for the network in tandem with the downsizing.
Dr. Ofrin clarified that the process is not abrupt. “We are not dismantling the network overnight. Specific units will close gradually, while government systems scale up and assume their functions,” he said. He assured that essential surveillance operations would remain uninterrupted and eventually be integrated into the broader Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP).
However, the decision to scale down a key health surveillance system amid a global rise in polio cases has sparked concern among experts and employees alike.
Dr. Jacob John, a renowned virologist and vaccine specialist who has been closely involved in India’s polio eradication efforts, expressed strong disapproval. “This move is extremely unwise. Polio still exists in countries like Afghanistan and Pakistan too close for comfort,” he said. He warned of the threat posed by circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV), especially type 2, for which India stopped immunization in 2016. “If this strain enters India, it could lead to widespread outbreaks,” he cautioned.
Dr. John has long advocated for a shift from the oral polio vaccine (OPV) to the injectable version (IPV). He proposes replacing OPV with IPV for at least a year before considering ending OPV use altogether. “Only after two years of such transition should we even think of dismantling our surveillance system,” he emphasized.
NPSN staff, most of whom are employed under the WHO’s Special Services Agreement, are also worried about job security. While Dr. Ofrin’s communication touched on this issue, many employees remain uncertain about their future. “Each centre employs at least four people. A shutdown means thousands could lose their livelihoods,” said one officer on the condition of anonymity.
Since India was declared polio-free in 2014, NPSN units have played a broader role, including surveillance for measles, rubella, and DPT, supporting child immunization, and training healthcare workers for new vaccine rollouts. Staff argue that closing these centres could hinder progress on vaccine-preventable diseases. “There’s no clear reason to shut down a functioning system that continues to serve multiple crucial roles,” one doctor noted.
Experts and frontline workers alike urge caution, warning that the proposed drawdown could jeopardize India’s hard-won gains in disease prevention and public health security.
