Union Health Ministry to create separate Medical research dept

Kolkata, Jun 9 (UNI) In a bid to boost medical research, Union Ministry for Health and Family Welfare will set up a separate department for this purpose here.

Speaking on the sidelines of a programme here today, Union Helath Minister Anbumani Ramadoss said if the proposal is passed by the cabinet, the Ministry would be known as 'Union Ministry of Health, Family Welfare and Medical Research.' ''The proposal would go to the cabinet soon and would henceforth have three departments under it,'' he said.

A high-level committee under the head Scientific Advisor to the Prime Minister, C N R Rao has been appointed. The committee has already submitted its proposal.

However, autonomy of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) would not be affected. The works of ICMR would be shifted to the proposed medical reaserch department.

''Financially, the resources of the new department will increase three fold in next two years,'' Dr Ramadoss said.

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