BS RAWAT
NEW DELHI : Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan has awarded 46 biomedical scientists who have done pioneering work in the area of health research to solve various health issues.

The awards were given on behalf of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The awards for 2017 and 2018 were presented to 46 scientists, including 14 women scientists. Of these awards, two were given to scientists belonging to underprivileged communities and one to a scientist who has conducted research in under-developed areas.

The awardees belong to ICMR; CSIR-labs; AIIMS-New Delhi; PGI-Chandigarh; SGPGI-Lucknow; IITs; JIPMER-Puducherry; SCTIMST-Thiruvananthapuram; Lady Hardinge Medical College-New Delhi; state and central universities and other reputed institutions.

On the occasion, Dr Vardhan stated that ICMR has contributed a lot in solving the health problems and uplifting the health status of the country.

The minister called for development of new technologies, research to reduce out-of-pocket expenditure by patients and help in reducing disease burden.

He appreciated India’s top research bodies' efforts in tackling the emerging and re-emerging infections like Zika and Nipah and congratulated its scientists for excellent work.

DG-ICMR Prof Balram Bhargava pointed out, "The awards will be our constant endeavour to create an enabling environment for the next generation of scientists to help them achieve their full potential and serve the nation."