Recently, the Indian government has made a landmark move in the country’s battle against Covid-19 by launching its first mobile I-Lab (Infectious disease diagnostic Lab). The lab was fabricated by the Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone Limited (AMTZ) under the National Biopharma Mission. The aim of this I-Lab is to improve access to Covid-19 testing facilities right down to the last mile.
Emergence of Mobile I-Labs under the Covid-Command Strategy
A significant contribution to the development and deployment of these mobile I-Labs came from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT – Ministry of Science & Technology), which offered support as part of their Covid-Command strategy. Falling under the BioSafety Level (BSL-II) category, these labs are classified based on the types of organisms they handle, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. BSL-I signifies the least hazardous operations, escalating to BSL-IV which involves the highest safety risk.
Accessibility and Testing Capability of the I-Lab
These laboratories will be deployed in the remote, inaccessible regions of the country. The I-Lab boasts impressive daily testing capabilities: 25 RT-PCR tests, 300 ELISA tests, and additional testing for Tuberculosis and HIV, in compliance with the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) rates. Both RT-PCR and ELISA tests have received approval from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for use in Covid-19 diagnostics.
The Role of Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone Limited
Incorporated in 2016, the Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone Limited is recognized as Asia’s first dedicated ecosystem for medical equipment manufacturing. This initiative puts India on the global map of high-quality healthcare product production. Among its many objectives, AMTZ focuses on reducing manufacturing costs by up to 40% and minimizing the country’s import dependency, currently standing at approximately 75%.
The DBT-AMTZ COMManD Consortia Initiative
In an effort to address the shortage of critical healthcare technologies and foster self-sufficiency in the country, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has partnered with AMTZ to create the DBT-AMTZ COMManD (Covid Medtech Manufacturing Development) Consortia.
Launch of the National Biopharma Mission and Innovate in India (i3) Programme
The National Biopharma Mission (NBM), launched in 2017, is a platform that encourages collaboration between industry and academia to expedite biopharmaceutical developments in India. The i3 programme was initiated under this mission, aiming to generate an enabling environment for entrepreneurship and indigenous production in the biopharma sector.
Focus Areas of the i3 Programme
The i3 programme prioritises four key areas: product lead development for vaccines, biosimilars and medical devices; upgrading shared infrastructure facilities; developing human capital through specific training; and enhancing industry-academia linkages by creating technology transfer offices.
With these initiatives, the government aims to provide a comprehensive response to public health needs, especially in the area of infectious diseases like Covid-19 while promoting localization and industrial growth.
Last Modified: February 7, 2024