Focus on Self-Reliance and Equity: ICMR’s Efforts Cited as Pillar of ‘Vikshit Bharat’ at Foundation Day Event
NEW DELHI: Minister of State for Health, Anupriya Patel, today declared that India has emerged as one of the most dynamic global health innovation ecosystems over the past decade. The Minister delivered the keynote address at the 114th foundation day of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in New Delhi.
Mrs. Patel highlighted that the country’s health research ecosystem has significantly strengthened under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, positioning it as a crucial pillar for achieving the vision of Vikshit Bharat (Developed India). This progress, she stated, is “driven by self-reliance, innovation as well as equity.”
The Minister emphasized the role of public-private partnerships in translating scientific breakthroughs into tangible healthcare solutions, reflecting the collective spirit of the government’s motto: Sabka Saath Sabka Prayas, Sabka Vishwas.
Mrs. Patel outlined the collaborative efforts between the Department of Health Research and the ICMR, which are actively addressing critical national priorities. These areas include Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), Rare Diseases, Climate-related health risks and One Health preparedness
The ICMR’s specialized initiatives, such as its centres of excellence, the clinical trial network, and the ‘Medtech Mitra’ platform, were lauded for their impact. Mrs. Patel specified that this ecosystem has successfully nurtured more than 27 indigenous medical technologies, accelerating “affordable innovation from lab to the real-life settings.”
A significant announcement during the event was the launch of new assistive technology guidelines and an assessment kit. These tools, jointly developed by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi, with financial backing from the ICMR, are aimed at enhancing rehabilitation services.
The assistive technology guidelines, alongside the assessment kit for upper limb functions, are expected to promote wider accessibility and integrate standardized, cost-effective evaluation tools into clinical and rehabilitation centres nationwide.