Editor’s Note (Archival Restoration — August 2026):
This article was originally published by The Optimist News on May 21, 2020, covering the Department of Biotechnology’s (DBT-IBSD) COVID-19 diagnostic infrastructure rollouts in Meghalaya. As part of our platform revitalization and archival preservation initiative under new editorial leadership, this report has been verified, reformatted, and restored to our active public record.
The Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (DBT-IBSD)—a national autonomous institute under the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India—partnered with the Meghalaya Health Department to establish a dedicated COVID-19 diagnostic facility in Tura, West Garo Hills.
Located over 300 kilometers from NEIGRIHMS in Shillong (which initially served as Meghalaya’s primary testing center), the new Tura facility at the Government Civil Hospital significantly decentralized testing capacity across the state during the height of national supply chain disruptions.
Key Facility & Infrastructure Overview
| Operational Parameter | Details & Project Specifications |
| New Diagnostic Center | Government Civil Hospital, Tura (West Garo Hills, Meghalaya) |
| Primary Central Hub | NEIGRIHMS, Shillong (Located ~300+ km from Tura) |
| Coordinating Institutions | Department of Biotechnology (DBT-IBSD) & Meghalaya Health Department |
| Key Scientific Personnel | Prof. Pulok K. Mukherjee (Director, IBSD); Dr. Albert Chiang (Scientist & Project Coordinator, IBSD) |
| Core Machinery Supplied | RT-PCR Machine, Refrigerated Centrifuge, Ultra-Low Temperature Deep Freezers |
| Staff Training Site | Microbiology Department, NEIGRIHMS, Shillong |
Equipment Provision & Technical Orientation
To rapidly operationalize the Tura diagnostic center, DBT-IBSD provided critical testing machinery and technical assistance, including:
- RT-PCR Machine: Essential for precise molecular viral nucleic acid amplification and diagnostic testing.
- Refrigerated Centrifuge: Required for bio-sample preparation and viral RNA isolation.
- Ultra-Low Temperature Deep Freezers: Necessary for safe long-term sample preservation and reagent storage.
In addition to hardware, IBSD conducted specialized technical orientation and equipment training for the state team of medical doctors and laboratory technicians at the Microbiology Department of NEIGRIHMS.
Prof. Pulok K. Mukherjee, Director of IBSD, commended the Meghalaya Health Department for its dedicated pandemic response and pledged continued scientific support from IBSD to address healthcare challenges across the region.
Inter-Agency Coordination & Regional Support
The establishment of the Tura testing facility was coordinated virtually between teams led by the Commissioner and Secretary of Health (Government of Meghalaya) and the Director of IBSD, with Dr. Albert Chiang (Scientist, IBSD) serving as primary coordinator.
Deploying equipment during the height of national lockdowns helped fill critical diagnostic gaps caused by global supply chain shortages, as documented on the Govt of India COVID-19 Science & Technology portal.
Broader Scientific Support Across North-East India
Beyond Meghalaya, DBT-IBSD extended equipment, diagnostic consumables, and technical support to multiple healthcare facilities throughout North-East India, including:
- JNIMS (Government of Manipur)
- RIMS, Imphal (Government of India)
- NEIGRIHMS, Shillong (Government of India)
- Zoram Medical College (Government of Mizoram)
- Pasteur Institute (Government of Meghalaya)
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was a dedicated COVID-19 testing facility established in Tura, Meghalaya?
Before the Tura center, NEIGRIHMS in Shillong was the state’s lone COVID-19 testing hub. Tura is located over 300 kilometers from Shillong, making sample transportation difficult during lockdown conditions. Establishing a facility at Tura Government Civil Hospital decentralized testing and reduced diagnostic turnaround times for West Garo Hills.
What technical support did DBT-IBSD provide to the Meghalaya Health Department?
DBT-IBSD supplied an RT-PCR machine, a refrigerated centrifuge, and two deep freezers. IBSD scientists also provided technical orientation and hands-on operational training for local doctors and laboratory technicians.
Where was the medical staff trained to operate the new testing equipment?
The team of doctors and laboratory technicians assigned to the Tura facility underwent technical training at the Microbiology Department of NEIGRIHMS in Shillong.
Which other healthcare facilities in North-East India received support from DBT-IBSD?
DBT-IBSD provided machinery, diagnostic consumables, and technical support to several regional centers, including JNIMS (Manipur), RIMS (Imphal), Zoram Medical College (Mizoram), NEIGRIHMS (Shillong), and the Pasteur Institute (Meghalaya).
Featured Image Courtesy: North East Today (NorthEastToday)