Rs 597 cr scheme for health research

Government today approved a scheme aimed at human resource development in health research under the 12th Plan at an estimated cost of Rs 597 crore.
As per the proposal of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, 2,585 fellowships would be provided grants for training in India and abroad and development of 1,694 research projects by the trainees during the 12th Plan period (2012-17).
A talented pool would be created through skill upgradation of faculty of medical colleges, mid-career scientists, medical students etc through specialised training in priority areas of health research in leading national and international institutions.

The scheme shall also encourage and support trainees to develop and take up research projects for addressing critical national and local health problems and financial assistance to institutions for up-gradation of infrastructure to enable such institutions to provide training with state of the art technologies, said a government statement.
Development and implementation of online web based courses on health research is also an important component of the scheme, it said.
The scheme also has a separate component specifically for training of about 240 women scientists who have had break in their careers and to encourage NRIs, Persons of Indian Origin, Overseas Citizen of India serving abroad in health research activities to come back to India for undertaking research in identified areas.

Support would also be provided to scientists, professionals, association/bodies engaged in the fields of medicine, surgery, microbiology, pathology etc for undertaking various activities, it said.