Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has noted that the research work in the country on the diseases like tuberculosis, malaria and dengue that mostly affect the poor are negligible, if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government is considering to conduct researches on new medicines for these diseases; and
(c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)
(a) Government has given due impetus to research on diseases like tuberculosis, malaria and dengue.
The Department of Science & Technology, has supported R&D projects on diseases including tuberculosis, malaria and dengue, under 119 industries-institutional alliances.
Besides, Department of Biotechnology (DBT) is supporting research work in these areas.
Also, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) under Department of Health Research (DHR) is engaged in research on TB, malaria and dengue.
(b) & (c): The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) through its flagship programme on Indian TB research consortium is developing new drugs/regimens/repurposed drugs for drug sensitive as well as drug resistant tuberculosis.
For malaria, ICMR is conducting research on new anti-malarials through its own institutes and also funds other institutes, hospitals and industries for the same.
ICMR has also funded a proposal on evaluating the role of NilambaKudineer, an ayurvedic formulation for assessing its beneficial effect on symptomatic dengue.
Under Indo-US Vaccine Action Programme (VAP), and National Biopharma Mission (NBM), the Department of Biotechnology has undertaken research on vaccine for malaria and dengue.