India marked a major milestone when it became polio-free 11 years ago—an achievement hailed as one of the nation’s greatest public health victories. However, concerns have resurfaced after reports indicated that the government plans to gradually phase out the National Polio Surveillance Network (NPSN) over the next three years. Doctors across the country are voicing alarm, emphasizing that India cannot afford to lower its guard while neighboring countries like Pakistan and Afghanistan continue to report new cases of the disease.
Role and Reach of the Surveillance Network
The World Health Organization (WHO) helped launch the NPSN in the 1990s, and it now operates over 200 centres nationwide to monitor polio and other infectious diseases. Under the new proposal, the government plans to reduce the number of surveillance units from around 280 to 190 next year and further to 140 by 2027, along with phased funding cuts. Experts warn that this downsizing could jeopardize early detection and containment efforts.
Experts Warn Against Complacency
“This is not the right time to lower our guard,” said Dr. Aashish Chaudhry, Managing Director and Head of Orthopaedics & Joint Replacement at Aakash Healthcare. “Polio remains active in our region. Pakistan alone has reported about 30 cases this year, and Afghanistan continues to face new infections. The virus can easily cross borders, and without vigilant monitoring, we risk its reappearance.”
Global Efforts and Local Responsibilities
Dr. Chaudhry noted that the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) recently launched a new action plan to reinforce global polio control efforts amid ongoing conflicts and funding cuts. “At such a critical time, India should strengthen its surveillance system rather than scaling it back,” he added.
Risks of Re-Emergence
India’s last polio case was reported in 2011, and the country was declared polio-free in 2014 after years of extensive immunization campaigns led by lakhs of health workers. However, experts caution that the risk is not only from wild poliovirus but also from vaccine-derived strains that can spread in areas with low immunization coverage. “If such a virus enters India, new cases could appear within months. Strong surveillance is our only safeguard,” Dr. Chaudhry warned.
NPSN’s Broader Role in Public Health
As per the press release, the NPSN centres do more than track polio—they also monitor diseases such as measles, rubella, and diphtheria, and train local health workers. They regularly collect sewage samples to detect traces of the poliovirus, especially during large gatherings like the Kumbh Mela. “These centres are our early warning system,” said Dr. Sunil Rana, Associate Director and Head of Internal Medicine (Unit III) at Asian Hospital. “They alert us before diseases spread. If we dismantle this system, outbreaks could go undetected for longer, and that delay can cost lives.”
Call for Policy Reconsideration
Dr. Rana added that the government had earlier planned to leverage the NPSN’s vast network to track other emerging diseases. “This closure plan contradicts that vision,” he remarked. WHO reports confirm that India’s ongoing sewage surveillance has played a pivotal role in keeping the nation polio-free despite extensive cross-border travel.
Protecting a Hard-Won Victory
“India’s success story is a model for the world,” said Dr. Aakaar Kapoor, CEO and Lead Medical Advisor at City X-Ray and Scan Clinic. “But polio is not yet eradicated globally. If we become complacent now, all our hard work could be undone. The surveillance network must remain robust until the entire region is polio-free.”