Context:
ICMR starts revising current National Essential Diagnostics List for first time
National Essential Diagnostics List:
- Includes – All levels of health care including primary, secondary and tertiary care.
- Based upon – WHO’s Essential Diagnostics List, Free Diagnostics Service Initiative (FDI) of Health Ministry
- Scope –
- General laboratory tests for routine patient care and for diagnosis of communicable and non- communicable diseases.
- Diagnostic test on specific diseases like Vector borne diseases, Tuberculosis, HIV, Syphilis etc.
- Tests relevant for new programmes such as Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.
- Importance –
- India has become the 1st country in the world to compile such a list
- Helps in optimal utilization of Essential Medicine List (EML).
- Help India in achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.8 (Universal Health Coverage)
Indian Council of Medical Research:
- Location – New Delhi
- Year – 1949
- Predecessor – Indian Research Fund Association (IRFA)
- Aim – Formulation, coordination and promotion of biomedical research.
- Funded by – Government of India through the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
Source: The Hindu
Previous Year Question
In the context of vaccines manufactured to prevent COVID-19 pandemic, consider the following statements
1. The Serum Institute of India produced COVID-19 vaccine named Covishield using mRNA platform.
2. Sputnik V vaccine is manufactured using a vector based platform.
3. COVAXIN is an inactivated pathogen based vaccine.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2022 Prelims]
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (b)
Explanation:
Statement 1 is incorrect. Covishield vaccine is an Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured locally under licence by the Serum Institute of India. It uses the viral vector platform.
