The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) would soon set up Epidemiological Intelligent Units (EIUs) at its 27 research institutes (RI) for Direct Monitoring of Treatment (DOT) of various diseases, according its director general Dr N K Ganguly.

Dr. Ganguly told Pharmabiz.com that EIU in Chennai has already been established, and has already begun its DOT for tuberculosis. “Other institutes would follow similar pattern in their respective specialisation areas,” Dr. Ganguly said. The EIU would be set up using the enhanced budget allocation of Rs. 970 crore allocated to ICMR in the 10th Five Year Plan. “We have to work the cost of the respective EIUs but ICMR has sufficient funds allocated to it and this may not be a problem,” he added.

“The DOT programmes have been highly successful and the EIUs would further strengthen the efforts of eradicating diseases,” Dr. Ganguly added.

Consequent to the above, ICMR willhave an extensive network of its institutes . “We are in the process of monitoring research work of various labs through a programme called 'IRIS' information system to check any duplication of research projects”, he said, adding further “We will be taking up a major training programme for private practitioners to improve their performances.”