India, Britain ink pact on technical cooperation in health

India and Brittain have signed an agreement on strategic and technical cooperation in the health sector.

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by V.M. Katoch, secretary in the department of health research (DHR), and Andrew Dillon, chief executive of the National Institute for Health and Care (NICE) Excellence in London on Friday.

The MoU followed the signature of an overarching health agreement between UK and India at the World Health Assembly, Geneva, last month. The health ministers of the two countries signed the agreement in Geneva.

Friday's agreement between DHR and NICE aims to bring modern health technology to people by encouraging innovations in diagnostics, treatment methods and disease prevention. The aim is to translate the innovations into products and processes by facilitating synergy with other departments.

The MoU creates provisions for exchange of institutional expertise and experience in clinical practice guidelines pathways and quality standards.

To fulfil its mandate, the agreement delineates activities such as collaborative projects between UK and Indian scientists, strengthening of existing institutions responsible for turning medical evidence to policy, setting up of technical pilots to develop technical and institutional capacities and engagement with the health service providers as a key stakeholder.

"We are delighted to sign this important MoU with the department of health research, government of India. It builds on our existing activities in the country and demonstrates our commitment to work together in areas relating to medical and health technology assessment," Dillon said.

"India is in the process of developing a Health Technology Assessment Board and this MoU between NICE and DHR would strengthen our efforts in this direction," Katoch said.