New Delhi: Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday (December 14) said “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan, Jai Anusandhan” – research and innovation will create a robust health research ecosystem and will be twin engines to drive our global competitiveness. Mr Mandaviya, who inaugurated five new facilities at the Indian Council of Medical Research – National Institute of Malaria Research (ICMR-NIMR) here, said “Jai Anusandhan” is a very important principle in the endeavour towards making India self-reliant. The facilities include a test research laboratory, an innovation complex, a conference hall complex and a 300-seat Auditorium.
जय जवान, जय किसान, जय विज्ञान, जय अनुसंधान।
Research and innovation will create a robust health research ecosystem and will be twin engines to drive our global competitiveness. pic.twitter.com/VRaWYx0KDg
— Dr Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) December 14, 2023
Mr Mandaviya said this inauguration is “indicative of the focus of the government on research and innovation in every field of health”. The health minister said,
Over the last four decades, these centres have conducted important research in many areas, including emerging and re-emerging viral Infections, diarrheal disorders, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, hypertension, diabetes, AMR surveillance, zoonotic diseases and other health problems.
He added,
These are not just buildings but temples of health that the country needs today to make its health ecosystem self-reliant. The government is working to develop India’s health sector completely and make it self-reliant.
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Highlighting the importance of “Jai Anusandhan”, the health minister said that it would have taken months for India to get the vaccine during the time of Covid. He said,
But we not only developed the vaccine in the country itself, we provided the best quality vaccine at the cheapest price to the world. Similarly, there are 14-15 medicines for rare diseases like Hydroxy-urea that earlier used to cost tens of thousands of rupees. Today, these medicines are made in India and cost only a fraction of the earlier amount.
The health minister said the Central government’s aim is to take India to the forefront in the field of health and scientific evidence-based treatment and noted the need for high-quality laboratories to fight the emerging variants of diseases like Covid.
Mr Mandaviya urged the scientists, innovators and other people of the country who are developing new technologies in the field of health to use their new ideas, new thoughts, new innovations and new technologies to “fulfil the dream of New India”. He said,
Strengthening the ICMR-NIMR’s infrastructure is a step towards moving to malaria elimination in the country by 2030.
The health minister focused on the integration of technologies like digital health and artificial intelligence in healthcare.
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He emphasised the importance of innovative use of drones for vaccine and drug delivery and the exploration of organ transfer via drones, which would signify a major leap in healthcare accessibility and efficiency.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which in its Season 10 is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Ayushmann Khurrana. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ population, indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In a world post COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental well-being, self-care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.
