Win Win situation for All: ICMR labs available to medical colleges for research

New Delhi: With a primary focus on the healthcare sector and a major boost to medical research, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that facilities in select Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Labs would be made available for research by public and private medical college faculty and private sector R&D teams for encouraging collaborative research and innovation. 

Minister Sitharaman commenced her Budget speech for 2023-2024 by saying that "This Budget hopes to build on the foundation laid in the previous Budget, and the blueprint is drawn for India@100."

Terming the initiative a “ win-win situation for everybody,” former WHO chief scientist and ex-Director-General of the ICMR, Dr Soumya Swaminathan said “It is a good idea as many of our government laboratories have a lot of infrastructure which may not be available at medical colleges or smaller research institutions. At the same time, ICMR labs may not be fully utilising the equipment.”

“So, sharing the facilities will not only ensure the efficiency of use but also maximize the use of expensive equipment and allow smaller institutions to access the latest technology. This will then build capacity among students and young faculty in those organisations and encourage some collaborations. There are people visiting laboratories and while interacting with each other, could find common areas of interest that could lead to either public-public or public-private collaborations. This can then accelerate research,” she added.

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Commenting on this, Dr Balram Bhargava, former DG of ICMR, told The Indian Express, “This is an important announcement on several ICMR institutions working with the private sector on the public health needs of the country and not on just the needs of the industry. The agenda of the private sector can be slightly different but once they are married in such a way, then the agenda becomes of public health importance for the nation. Yes, there will be a profit spin-off for companies. But this can be done in a very transparent manner like how it was done for COVID testing facilities, Covid vaccination and vaccines with an expression of interest, tender process and inviting those companies which wanted to make them.”

“On the healthcare front, the budget focuses on the opening of 157 new nursing colleges and using existing facilities in select ICMR labs for research by public & private medical facilities,” said Dr Ashutosh Raghuvanshi, MD & CEO, Fortis Healthcare Limited.

While speaking with HT, Commander Navneet Bali, Regional Director Narayana Health-North said Union Budget 2023 looks progressive and inclusive for the healthcare sector.

Bali said “The healthcare sector plays a crucial role in inclusive development and reaching the last mile. We are glad to know that ICMR labs will be made available for research by public & private medical college faculty and private sector R&D teams. We were expecting some measures on capacity building in the sector and it is promising to note that the government has announced setting up 150 new nursing colleges. This would enhance our capacity and fill the gap in terms of human resources.”

“Covaxin is an example of private-public partnership, which has for the first time demonstrated not only to India but the entire world about this indigenous vaccine. We have seen during COVID how ICMR led in the development of testing facilities, infrastructure and kits with private-public partnerships. A public-private partnership will be useful for the country in the event of future pandemics and health-related research and guidance for the nation,” he said.

Lt Gen (retd) Madhuri Kanitkar, Vice-Chancellor, Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, said India needed non-public funding and support for research. “The Budget announcement is very important as it is in keeping with our vision and our mission to align education and research to public health needs.”

Research and development (R&D) include activities that companies undertake to innovate and introduce new products and services. It is often the first stage in the development process. The goal is typically to take new products and services to market and add to the company's bottom line.\

Therefore, the Budget favouring health care R & D this year would result in better caregiving, focused attention to patients and faster recovery said Ruby Hall Clinic, CEO Behram Khodaiji.

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