Lok Sabha Question No. 1965 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-12
Subject: Medical Research for Treatment of Infectious Disease
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Mala Rajya Laxmi Shah, Pushpendra Singh Chandel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH RESEARCH

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1965 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12 TH FEBRUARY, 2021

## MEDICAL RESEARCH FOR TREATMENT OF INFECTI OUS DISEASE

## 1965. SHRIMATI MALA RAJYA LAXMI SHAH: SHRI KUNWAR PUSHPEND RA SINGH CHANDEL:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WE LFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken initiative to encourage medical research for the treatment of infectious and other diseases, if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government has taken initiative to seek help from foreign medical institutes to improve and expedite the level of research in medical science;

- (c) if so, the details thereof; and

(d) the funds allocated for research to high ereducation medical institutions during the last three yearsalong with the details of the research carried out by the researchers?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a): With a view to encourage and promote medical research in the country including researc for treatment of diseases, the Department of Health Research has the following schemes -schemes:

- (1)Grant - in - aid  scheme  for  Inter - sectoral  Coverage  &  Coordination  for  Promotion  and Guidance on Health Research with a view to provide support in the form of grant - in - aid for carrying out research studies to identify the existing knowledge gaps and to transl existing  health  leads  into  deliverable  products.  There  is  a  special  focus on  encouraging innovation, their translation and implementation by collaboration and cooperation with agencies.
- (2)Human Resource Development for Health Research with the aim to create a pool of talen health research personnel in the country by upgr ading skills of faculty of Medical Colleges/ Institutes, mid - career Scientists, medical students, etc., by specialized training in p areas  of  health  research  in  leading  national  and  international  institutions,  encou support the trainees to develop and take up research projects for addressing critical natio

and  local  health  problems  and  financial  assistance  to  Institutions  for  up - gradation  of infrastructure  to  enable  such  Institutions  to  provide  training  with  state  of technologie s.

- (3)Establishment of Network of Laboratories for Managing Epidemics and Natural Calamitie through establishment of Viral Research & Diagnostics Laboratories across the country creating  infrastructures  for  developing  capacity  for  identification  of  nov el  and  unknown viruses; providing training to health professionals and undertaking research for ident of emerging and newer genetically active/ modified agents.
- (4)Establishment  of  Multi - Disciplinary  Research  Units  (MRUs)  in  Government  Medical Colle ges/Institutes with the view to encourage and strengthen an environment of medi research in Non - Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in Government Medical Colleges, bridge the gap in the infrastructure inhibiting health research in the Medical Colleges and u mately to improve the overall health status of the population by creating evidence -based application of diagnostic procedures/processes/methods.
- (5)Establishment  of  Model  Rural  Health  Research  Units  (MRHRUs)  in  States,  in  close proximity to the PHCs/CHCs to undertake medical research by creating infrastructure transfer  of  technology  to  the  rural  level  for  improving  quality  of  health  services ral population.
- (6)Health Technology Assessment in India (HTAIn) for providing evidence based guideline on  cost - effectiveness  of  technologies,  namely,  treatments,  devices  and  technologies providing access to quality healthcare at affordable cost.

Besides this, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), an apex and premier resea organisation,  which  is  an  autonomous  body  under  the  Department  of  Health  Research, engaged in Medical/Health research through the network of its 26 research institute s and funding of extra - mural  research  projects  through  the  medical  colleges,  other  research  institution Apart  from  Department  of  Health  Research,  the  Departments  of  Biotechnology,  Science Technology, Health & Family Welfare, etc., also provide fel lowships and grants for carrying out biomedical research.

(b)  &  (c):  Indian  Council  of  Medical  Research  has  cooperation  arrangements  in  the  are biomedical  research  with  several  countries  such  as  USA, UK,  France,  Germany  Sweden, Australia,  Switzerland ,  Norway,  Russia,  Japan,  South  Korea,  Africa,  Myanmar  and  Nepal to facilitate and strengthen research collaboration in several areas of mutual interest bet and foreign countries. These arrangements are in partnership mode for collaborative re ch projects and capacity building in biomedical research.

(d): Information is being collected and will be laid on the Table of the House.