By IANS,
New Delhi : Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad Thursday urged Indian researchers not to treat medical research only as an academic exercise but use the findings in treating patients.
“There are a large number of active scientists working in different disciplines of biological sciences and producing good leads. Often we find that these are not translated into products or useable knowledge such as treatment methods,” Azad said at a meeting of the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR).
“I urge ICMR scientists to put special efforts on translational programmes as the country needs these technologies now and cannot wait indefinitely,” he said.
ICMR is working on at least 50 projects for developing treatment for diseases like chikengunea, tuberculosis, leprosy and cancer, secretary of department of health research V.M. Katoch said.
ICMR, the research wing of health ministry, entered its centenary year this November.