Dr. Rajiv Bahl, Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), announced significant advancements in public health during his address at the 19th International Conference of Drug Regulatory Authorities (ICDRA) INDIA-2024. 

A major highlight was the development of a new handheld X-ray device for tuberculosis (TB) screening, created in collaboration with IIT Kanpur. 

This indigenous device aims to be more affordable, costing less than half of imported alternatives, which will facilitate TB screening closer to patients' homes, especially among vulnerable populations.

Dr. Bahl also reported progress in addressing Mpox, with three new testing kits developed and manufactured by local companies. 

He emphasized the urgency of tackling sickle cell disease, which affects over a million people in India, the second-largest prevalence globally.

The National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aims to eliminate sickle cell disease as a public health issue by 2047. 

The ICMR has approved 18 low-cost tests for sickle cell anemia, reducing the cost per test from ₹400 to ₹30, marking a significant breakthrough in testing accessibility.

Dr. Bahl also gave updates on dengue, saying that a vaccine is expected to be released shortly, subject to the safety and effectiveness of phase three clinical trial results. 

The ongoing trials are expected to yield results within a year, potentially expanding India's protection against dengue.