The Aryavarth Express
Agency(New Delhi): Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, presiding over the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Governing Council Meeting, highlighted significant strides in health research and development. The assembly, aimed at reviewing ICMR’s recent achievements and setting a future course, witnessed contributions from key figures, including Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar. The collective effort underscores India’s ambition to emerge as a frontrunner in global medical research.
The Health Minister praised ICMR for its pivotal role in advancing medical research, emphasizing the government’s support in aligning with global standards of medical innovation. The MedTech Mitra initiative was spotlighted for fostering indigenous medical device development, underscoring the importance of integrating traditional knowledge through collaborations between ICMR, DBT-AYUSH, and Institutions of National Importance (INIs).
Dr. Mandaviya assured of the government’s steadfast support for enhancing the research and innovation ecosystem, while Dr. Pawar advocated for inter-departmental collaborations to focus research efforts. The emphasis was on AI-driven health solutions and elevating the Indian Journal of Medical Research to global standards.
Dr. Rajiv Bahl introduced the ‘First in the World Challenge’, aiming to finance groundbreaking biomedical research, reflecting ICMR’s commitment to fostering innovation. Key achievements discussed included a fourfold increase in health research funding over the past decade, the establishment of national health research programs, and collaborative efforts across departments, enhancing India’s medical research and development landscape.
ICMR’s initiatives, such as establishing centers of excellence and Centers for Advanced Research, are geared towards strengthening the innovation ecosystem, with the MedTech Mitra initiative playing a crucial role in supporting the Make in India MedTech sector. Additionally, efforts to fill over 1200 vacancies in various cadres align with national employment initiatives, further enhancing the organization’s capabilities.
Through these concerted efforts, ICMR is not only advancing health research but also ensuring that India’s contributions to medical science are recognized on a global scale, marking a significant leap towards achieving excellence in healthcare innovation and development.