The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : `World Bank should invest in Indian science projects'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 20, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

`World Bank should invest in Indian science projects'

By Our Special Correspondent

The Governor, Surjit Singh Barnala, (second from left), greets R.A. Mashelkar, Director-General of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, at the golden jubilee celebration of the M.V. Hospital for Diabetes, in Chennai on Sunday. Looking o n (from left) are A. Ramachandran, hospital director, and Vijay Viswanathan, joint director. — Photo: R. Ragu

CHENNAI, DEC. 19. Multilateral institutions such as the World Bank should invest in India for implementing projects in science and technology, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research's Director General, R.A. Mashelkar, said today.

Referring to his recent discussion with the World Bank chief, Dr. Mashelkar emphasised the importance of advocacy for global funding in India and said that any help to India in research and development would benefit the world. For instance, the country had several comparative advantages in drug and pharmaceutical industry. By facilitating India to emerge as a "drug manufacturing hub", drugs for diseases such as Hepatitis B and malaria could be produced at a cheaper price than in developed countries. This would be beneficial to several developing countries.

After January 1, 2005 when the regime of product patents would come into force, the issue of availability and affordability of drugs and access of the poor to them would assume critical importance. Under such circumstances, the need for using India's advantages for a larger purpose and good would be felt intensely. The country's drug and pharmaceutical industry should also rise to the occasion, he said, delivering a lecture on Indian role in drug discovery, development and delivery at a function here to mark golden jubilee celebration of M.V. Hospital for Diabetes, Royapuram.

Public health

Dr. Mashelkar said the World Health Organisation, in March, set up a nine-member commission on intellectual property rights and innovations in public health under the chairmanship of Ruth Dreifus, former President of Switzerland. This panel (for which Dr. Mashelkar is the vice-chairman) had been addressing itself to the issue of "availability, affordability and access." Also, it was deliberating on diseases of the poor. It would submit its report by the end of 2005.

Calling upon the Central Government to provide greater allocation for research projects in science and technology, the CSIR DG pointed out that several leading multinational companies were setting up R & D units in India. This only showed that the country was best suited for R&D projects, both in terms of cost and competence, he added, after receiving the Prof. M. Viswanathan Endowment Golden Jubilee Public Lecture Award.

Diabetes prevention

The Governor, Surjit Singh Barnala, who gave away the award, stressed the importance of preventive measures for tackling the disease of diabetes. He called upon the M.V. Hospital for Diabetes to join hands with non-governmental organisations such as Lions and Rotary Clubs in creating awareness among the public and educating them on healthy eating habits, physical exercise, practice of Yoga and meditation.

A. Ramachandran, Director of the Hospital, said R. Suresh, professor in periodontology at Sri Ramachandra Dental College and Hospital, had been chosen for this year's Viswanathan endowment research grant of Rs. 1 lakh.

The subject chosen was "periodontitis and diabetes mellitus — a two-way phenomenon." Dr. Suresh would complete his study in two years. Vijay Viswanathan, Joint Director, explained the birth and growth of the hospital, which was founded by the late Viswanathan.

S.P. Thyagarajan, Madras University Vice-Chancellor, recalled his association with Viswanathan and described him as a "visionary." V. Mohan, chairman of Dr. Mohan's M.V. Diabetes Specialities Centre, announced the donation of Rs. 2 lakhs to the Diabetes Research Centre, Royapuram. The Law and Information Technology Minister, D. Jayakumar, released a documentary film on diabetes produced by the hospital authorities.

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