Health Ministry awaits Cabinet nod for autonomous research department

Ramadoss said: My Ministry is committed to elevate the status of health research in the country by creating a new Department of Health Research within the Ministry of Health. All formalities have been completed and we are awaiting the final nod.

New Delhi, July 6 (AN): Medical research is set to get a boost with the setting up of an autonomous department under the Health Ministry dedicated to the work.

A final nod from the Cabinet is awaited for it. Disclosing this, the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Anbumani Ramadoss said: "My Ministry is committed to elevate the status of health research in the country by creating a new Department of Health Research within the Ministry of Health. All formalities have been completed and we are awaiting the final nod."

Ramadoss said this while presenting the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) awards to 33 biomedical scientists from across the country for their outstanding contributions in research work for 2004-2005.

Ramadoss further said that the Ministry was committed to improve the funding for health research.

The Health Policy 2002 proposes an allocation of up to two per cent of total health spending by 2010. In view of the ICMR's requirement, the Government proposes an allocation of about rupees 50 billion in the 11th Five-Year Plan, said Ramadoss.

Among the awards presented today was the prestigious Dr B R Ambedkar Centenary Award for the year 2005, received jointly by Prof. Samir K Brahmachari and Dr. M.R.S Rao for their outstanding contribution in the field of bio-medical research. The award carries a cash prize of rupees one hundred thousand.

Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology Director Dr. Brahmachari is renowned for his contribution in molecular genetics of neurological and psychiatric disorders.

Dr. Rao, President of the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research at Bangalore, has used several ingenious and novel methods to identify mammalian recombination hotspots in mouse and humans.

Minister of State for Health Panabaka Lakshmi was also present on the occasion.

ANI