Question : RESEARCH IN MEDICAL SCIENCE

(a) whether the research works/projects undertaken in the field of medical science in the country are at par with the global standards;

(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith the parameters set by the Government in this regard; (

(c) the major research projects in medical science undertaken in medical colleges/institutes alongwith the achievements made as a result thereof in the country during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise;

(d) the funds allocated and spent on the above research projects/ works during the said period, State/UT-wise; and

(e) the further measures taken/proposed by the Government to encourage research in medical science and setting up proper infrastructure for the same in medical colleges and institutes?

THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI GHULAM NABI AZAD)

(a)to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 324 FOR 16TH DECEMBER, 2011

(a) & (b): There are no defined global or Indian norms/guidelines for judging research projects/ works undertaken in the field of medical science. However, a large number of research works from the country are published in indexed journals and listed in data bases like PubMed or Scopus. Qualitatively, output from India is at par with global standards, however quantitatively, the global share of Research output from India continues to be small.

(c) & (d): Research projects are undertaken in a large number of Government and Private medical colleges, apart from Public institutions, and philanthropic organisations. Private sector companies also undertake/ funds medical research. No central data base or information is maintained of the Research projects undertaken by all these organisations or the funds allocated or spent on them.

(e): The Indian Council of Medical Research and the Department of Health Research (DHR) have taken various steps to promote medical research in India. These include enhanced funding for human resources development targeted to various categories of scientists like Summer Studentships, Senior Research Fellowships, Post –doctoral fellowships, ad hoc research projects to medical teachers to take up research and support to students and teachers to participate in international seminars/workshops, short term international fellowships for training abroad.

In addition to these specific, focused training project development workshops on Research Methodology and project writing have been organized in medical colleges in States and the North-east that have relatively few grant applications sanctioned earlier.

In addition, DHR has formulated schemes on infrastructure support to medical colleges and establishment of Model Rural Research Units in the states; Human resource development ; development of network of research labs for viral and other infectious diseases and grant in aid scheme.