Health research can only be done by scientists: Azad

Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said Thursday that work on health research can only be done by scientists and not bureaucrats.

Inaugurating the office building of the Department of Health Research here, Azad congratulated scientists, led by director general of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) V.M. Katoch for the success they have achieved in developing many affordable technologies for health care in the country.

He said he was proud that the targets given to the ICMR for development of various technologies were achieved in time and some even before time.

Azad made particular reference to the development of vaccines and testing reagents for swine flu, which gripped the country some years back.

He said at that time the country was importing the vaccines and testing reagents. In addition, there was a paucity of testing labs in the country.

"Since then, the country has made significant progress as we now have about 40 labs, with at least one in each state. The country also produces its own vaccines and reagents," he added.