The National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) was established to function as a national centre of excellence for control of communicable diseases. The function of the institute also included various areas of training and research using multi-disciplinary integrated approach. The institute was, in addition, expected to provide expertise to the States and Union Territories (UTs) on rapid health assessment and laboratory based diagnostic services. Surveillance of communicable diseases and outbreak investigation also formed an indispensable part of its activities.

The Institute has its headquarters in Delhi and has 8 out-station branches. There are several technical Divisions at the headquarters of the institute i.e. Centre for Epidemiology and Parasitic Diseases (Dept. of Epidemiology, Dept. Parasitic Disease) Division of Microbiology, Division of Zoonosis, Centre for HIV/AIDS and related diseases, Centre for Medical Entomology and Vector Management, Division of Malariology and Coordination, Division of Biochemistry and Biotechnology. In each division there are several sections and laboratories dealing with different communicable diseases. The institute has a 24 x 7 Disease Monitoring Cell operating round the clock to respond to enquiries related to disease outbreak along-with video-conferencing facility to interact with the network of disease surveillance centres in the states and districts.

The Institute takes leading role in undertaking investigations of disease outbreaks all over the country employing epidemiological and diagnostic tools. It also provides referral diagnostic services to individuals, community, medical colleges, research institutions and state health directorates. The service component provided by the Institute also includes making available scientific research material, teaching aids, storage and supply of vaccines and quality control of biologicals.

Development and strengthening of referral diagnostic support services, capacity building in public health, adoption of new technologies, as well as study the impact of climate change, urbanization and industrialization on disease.

https://www.ncdc.gov.in/index2.asp?slid=511&sublinkid=205

https://www.ncdc.gov.in/index2.asp?slid=510&sublinkid=203

https://www.ncdc.gov.in/index2.asp?slid=506&sublinkid=232