ICMR’s Health Research Conclave discusses bridging gap between science and society

Policymakers, students, early researchers and experts in medical research shared views and insights at the recently concluded Health Research Conclave 2020 held under the ambit of India International Science Festival (IISF-2020).

Under the theme “Health Research for a Happy, Healthy and Self reliant India”, The topics on the agenda included emerging and re-emerging infections, Atmanirbhar Bharat- race for COVID-19 vaccine, holistic health, healthy India-fit India, universal health coverage and diseases which can be eliminated. The concept of Atmanirbhar Bharat, inclusion of new age technologies like AI and machine learning was emphasised in each of these areas

The Conclave was inaugurated virtually by Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare Dr. Harsh Vardhan and Sh. Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare gave valedictory address and concluded the conclave.

Dr. Samiran Panda, Head, ECD, ICMR and Director, NARI, Pune in his inaugural address emphasised that health is not limited to medical research and wellbeing. There is a need to acknowledge the broader and holistic issue of health. He added that, “The practice of science does not require panicking but thinking through and finding a solution. Vaccine development in India is happening without any external support, which is remarkable.”

Dr. V. K. Paul, Member, NITI Aayog provided his views on integrative health systems. He emphasised on creating an atmosphere where there is a joint effort to provide holistic health in our country on a true scale. He added that useful interventions and approaches emanating from traditional systems of medicine open up the possibility to work together.

Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, Chief Scientist, WHO gave an invigorating talk on global strategy to end tuberculosis by 2025. She added that TB incidence rate is falling, but not fast enough to reach the 2020 milestone of a 20 per cent reduction between 2015-2020. She mentioned that our Prime Minister has made a call to make India TB free by 2025 ahead of the global target of 2030 and work needs to be accelerated in order to achieve this goal.

Under the panel discussion on Healthy India-Fit India the celebrity Chef Sanjeev Kapoor highlighted the importance of local, fresh and seasonal food while former cricketer Madan Lal emphasised the need for physical fitness and added this is a mind game and one needs to make it a habit to remain physically fit.