Center
About the Center for Disease Control
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC), National Institute of Health (NIH), Pakistan, is the national technical body responsible for disease surveillance, epidemiology, outbreak detection and response, public health intelligence, emergency preparedness, and implementation support for national and international health obligations. CDC functions as the principal epidemiological arm of NIH and supports evidence-based public health decision-making across the country.
Following the 18th Constitutional Amendment, implementation of health programs became primarily the responsibility of provincial health departments. In this context, CDC provides technical leadership through epidemiological surveillance, evidence generation, development of guidelines and standards, capacity building, outbreak investigations, coordination with provinces and areas, and facilitation of public health emergency response.
CDC is mandated to systematically monitor disease trends and determinants of health, rapidly detect unusual public health events and outbreaks, strengthen prevention and control interventions, support policy development, evaluate public health programs, and facilitate timely dissemination of epidemiological information for action.
Evolution of the Center
- 1998The Epidemic Investigation Cell (EIC) was established within the Public Health Laboratories Division of NIH.
- 2013Upgraded by the NIH Board of Governors during its 61st meeting (16 July 2013) as the Field Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Division (FE&DSD) — the fifth technical division of NIH.
- 2021Re-designated as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) under the NIH Re-organization Act, 2021.
Core Functional Components
Surveillance & Response
- Indicator-based and event-based surveillance
- Outbreak detection, response and epidemiological analysis
- Advisories, alerts and Emergency Operations Center activation
- Monitoring of communicable and non-communicable diseases
- One Health surveillance activities
IHR, Global Health Security & International Linkages
- Implementation and coordination of IHR-2005 obligations
- Strengthening of core capacities
- International reporting, verification and WHO coordination
- Public health emergency communication
- Multisectoral collaboration under the One Health approach
Field Epidemiology & Workforce Development
- Workforce development and Field Epidemiology Training Programs (FETP)
- Outbreak investigation training
- Surveillance system strengthening
- Operational studies
- Support to provincial surveillance and response structures
Key Programs & National Initiatives
- Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) — over 90% coverage in primary and secondary healthcare facilities, with expansion to tertiary institutions underway
- Surveillance strengthening through DHIS-2 integration and district-level cascade trainings nationwide
- Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP), in collaboration with MoNHSR&C
- Pakistan Mortality Surveillance System (MSS)
- Infection Prevention and Control — Healthcare Associated Infections (IPC-HCAI) Strengthening Initiative
- One Health coordination mechanisms
- Rapid Response Team (RRT) development
- Public Health Emergency Operations Center (EOC) functions
- Public information, risk communication and Seasonal Awareness & Alert Letter (SAAL)
- Development of advisories and guidelines, and coordination with provincial units and international partners
Statutory Functions under the NIH Re-organization Act, 2021
- The Center for Disease Control shall set the strategic agenda and mandate related to infectious disease surveillance as well as promotive, preventive and therapeutic aspects for infectious diseases of public health importance in Pakistan
- The Center shall perform such functions as are directed and assigned by the Federal Government or the Board including,-
- Advisory on epidemics, disease outbreaks, prevention, control, surveillance and response to an outbreak;
- Preparation and application of the principles and techniques of emergency and preparedness at the national and sub-national levels;
- Develop an Emerging Infections Unit, the functions of which shall include-
- Surveillance and monitoring of emerging infections and conditions of public health importance via scientific and modern methods and technologies;
- Analysis and interpretation of surveillance data and information;
- Formulation of emergency response to prevent, control and manage emerging infections;
- Formulation of disease prevention programs which shall institute population-based and individual based prevention interventions that aim to minimize the impact of emergency on the loss of life and property, and to reduce the risks associated with the disease;
- Drug and vaccine stockpiles;
- Health promotion and health security;
- Communication and coordination with international, national and sub-national organizations for development of strategies of disease control; and
- Dissemination of information and communication with the public for implementing controls and mitigation strategies.
- Develop a Diseases Specific Unit, the functions of which shall
- Management of ongoing special disease programs such as Polio, HIV, Hepatitis, Tuberculosis, Malaria etc.;
- Management of future emerging special disease programs as identified by experts such as carbapenem resistant Enterobacteriaceae, drug-resistant typhoid, COVID-19 etc.;
- Access, examine and incorporate emerging international developments in public health laboratory and drugs sciences;
- Preventive activities contained in a program may include vaccination and post-exposure prophylaxis, provision of information on behavioral and health risks, counselling, nutritional and food supplementation; hygiene and health services; and screening programmes for early detection of disease.
- The Center shall with the assistance of the Federal and Provincial Governments and all public authorities develop and maintain a surveillance system to monitor infections and conditions of public health importance.
- The Center shall develop a testing and quarantine policy for the augmenting of the contact tracing efforts of exposed or infected individuals, which shall be implemented in collaboration with the Federal and Provincial Health Departments and other the health authorities in Pakistan who shall all ensure assistance to the Center in implementation of the provisions of this Ordinance.
- The Center in implementing its functions and the provisions of this Ordinance shall ensure the highest standards of human respect, dignity and privacy and shall ensure maintenance of secrecy of personal health information and data of the citizens in a manner that the same is not disclosed to any person so as to cause any damage to the respect, dignity and reputation of a the citizens.
