The Union health ministry has given its administrative approval and the expenditure sanction for the Department of Health Research (DHR)’s ambitious scheme of establishment of 80 multi-disciplinary research units (MRUs) in the government medical colleges and research institutions across the country.

The scheme is considered as a path-breaking initiative to develop and strengthen the health research infrastructure in the country to fulfill the newly allocated function of the DHR related to the promotion, coordination and development of basic, applied and clinical research.

The main objective of the scheme is to encourage and strengthen an environment of research in medical colleges and to bridge the gap in the infrastructure which is inhibiting health research in the medical colleges by assisting them to establish multidisciplinary research facilities with a view to improving the health research and health services.

The scheme is also aimed at ensuring the geographical spread of health research infrastructure, in order to cover un-served and under-served medical colleges and other institutions. The scheme also targets to improve the overall health status of the population by creating evidence-based application of diagnostic procedures, processes and methods.

The scheme entails establishment of modern biological lab/multi-disciplinary research facilities in 80 government medical colleges for promoting medical research in the country, in a phased manner (35 in 2013-14 and 45 in 2014-15).

The major functions of the MRUs are to undertake research in non-communicable diseases and other need-based research as recommended by the local research committee or the expert committee of the DHR employing newer tools and to promote and encourage quality medical research in the institution. Another function of the MRUs is to constitute the local research committees for identifying the research priorities and projects with participation of state health system officials.

The scheme entails setting up of 35 MRUs in 2013-14 and 45 MRUs in 2014-15 during the 12th Plan period, at a total estimated cost of Rs.503.85 crores, involving non-recurring expenditure of Rs.420.00 crores and recurring expenditure of Rs.83.85 crores for undertaking research on non-communicable diseases.

Under the scheme, the state government will be required to provide requisite space (free of cost) for establishment of MRUs in the medical colleges and will also be required to take over the recurring expenditure liability of the labs after the project period of five years. The state government will be required to enter into an MoA with the DHR in this regard.