Department of Health Research (DoHR) in coordination with Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has launched 5 important schemes to promote health research in the country.

Major programmes of Department of Health Research include, establishing of multidisciplinary research units (MRUs), setting up of model rural health research units (MRHRU), establishment of network of viral diagnostic research laboratories for managing epidemics and natural calamities, scheme on human resource development for health research and grant in aid for inter-sectoral convergence and coordination for promotion and guidance on health research.

As many as 41 medical colleges have been selected for establishing multi disciplinary research units in 24 states across the country. Similarly, the department of health research has also started model rural health research units (MRHRU) in 12 states which include Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Karnataka, Punjab, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.

To promote viral diagnostic research in the country, the central government has also initiated a programme to established Viral Diagnostic & Research Labs (VDRL). These research labs have been undertaken under 3 categories at regional, state medical college level. “Research in viral diagnostic is very important; compared to the western world our research in viral diagnostics is lagging way behind. It is high time that governments should give importance to research and development at least to tackle frequently troubling and fast spreading viruses swine flu (N1H1) and bird flu in the country,” says Dr. Lalu Prasad at Nilopher Hospital in Hyderabad.

Currently the ICMR is the only leading institute that is promoting research and development in the areas of diseases and drug development in the country. ICMR has partnered with various public and private research organisations and has a network of 32 institutes that are working in the field of medical research.