New Delhi, July 30 - Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad Thursday renamed the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) as National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and announced an investment of over Rs.5 billion to improve its infrastructure.

NICD is the top communicable disease research body of the country. It has played a key role in eradicating small pox, Guinea worm and yaws.

'On this momentous day of the institute's centenary celebrations, I am happy to announce that from today the government has decided to change the name of NICD to NCDC,' Azad said here.

'The NCDC will provide enhanced quality services. It will play a more meaningful role in the development of public health policy framework, conducting risk factor surveys for non-communicable diseases and developing human resource in public health,' the health minister said.

He announced that in the 11th five year plan, upgradation of NICD to NCDC has been taken up as a new initiative with the budgetary allocation of Rs.510 crore (Rs.5.1 billion).

'We have also obtained in principle approval for this from the Planning Commission.'

The fund will be utilised to build 'state-of-the-art laboratories', he said.