Madhya Pradesh, ICMR and Sun Pharma joined hands for research in preventive health

Government of Madhya Pradesh, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Sun Pharma on 25 April 2016 entered into an agreement for research and innovation in preventive health.

This agreement for Malaria Free India and other innovation in preventive health was announced by Union Health Minister JP Nadda in New Delhi at a function on the occasion of World Malaria Day.

Key highlights of the collaboration

• A malaria elimination demonstration project titled Malaria Free India will be established to support the national framework for elimination of malaria in India.

• The demonstration project will be launched in one of the most malaria endemic districts of Madhya Pradesh and implemented in a phased manner, beginning with Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh before December 2016.

• The partnership stakeholders will execute the malaria elimination programme over a span of 3 to 5 years covering over 1200 villages in Mandla district.

• Sun Pharma will establish a not-for-profit Foundation for implementing Malaria Free India demonstration project

• Malaria Free India Public-Private-Partnership initiative to dovetail into Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan goals

• The partners will expand cooperation in the area of translational health sciences research with the objective of developing new and improved medicines for infectious and chronic diseases.

• They will jointly work to strengthen capacity and facilities required for conducting research and trials aimed at testing safety and efficacy of medical products.

• Under the agreement ICMR and Sun Pharma will jointly conduct scientific research for development and testing of medical products including drugs, biosimilars and vaccines as well as undertake disease control and elimination programs.

• They will setup a Joint Working Group to identify and collaborate in disease surveillance and elimination that are relevant to India.

This unique initiative is a significant step in the health sector and reiterated the commitment of the government to strengthen health research in the country.

The collaboration, which is India’s first public-private-partnership for research and innovation, will prove to be a milestone in the government’s strategy to address the issue of Malaria in the country.

Now get latest Current Affairs on mobile, Download # 1  Current Affairs App