Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Smt. Anupriya Singh Patel, delivered the keynote address at the 2nd DHR-ICMR Health Research Excellence Summit 2025. Dr. V. K. Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog, also attended the event.
India’s Strengthening Health Research Ecosystem
Smt. Patel emphasized that India’s health research ecosystem has grown remarkably under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. She noted that the country has emerged as a global leader in health research over the past decade. Innovations like Rotavac, COVID-19 vaccines, and initiatives such as MedTech Mitra highlight India’s rising global prominence.
She also underscored the Government’s commitment to making scientific advancements accessible to every citizen. India, she said, is becoming increasingly self-reliant in MedTech and biomedical innovation, with the capacity to develop and deliver scalable solutions.
Commitment to Evidence-Based Policymaking
Smt. Patel reiterated that evidence-based policymaking remains central to Government initiatives. Smt. Patel stressed the need to make clinical guidelines and quality standards easily accessible to all healthcare professionals to ensure affordable and equitable healthcare.
She recognized the significant progress made across intramural, extramural, and clinical research, observing that India’s health system stands at a defining moment. She encouraged scientists to lead advancements in AI-driven precision healthcare and advanced genomics and she congratulated all researchers and awardees, adding that “India should not only contribute to global science but lead it.”
Vision for Viksit Bharat: Dr. V. K. Paul’s Remarks
Dr. Paul outlined the Viksit Bharat vision for ICMR, aiming to increase India’s healthy life expectancy beyond 75 years through innovative interventions and advanced technologies. He urged the Department of Health Research (DHR) to focus on key health priorities, including non-communicable diseases, hypertension, and trauma care.
He also listed ten enablers essential to achieving this vision: positioning ICMR among the world’s top three health research institutions, elevating intramural institutions to global leadership, nurturing the world’s largest extramural research system, achieving Atmanirbharta in knowledge and technologies, building strong state-level linkages, expanding Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, promoting traditional medicine awareness, developing a world-class research workforce, adopting frontier technologies like AI and robotics, and preparing strategies for biosecurity threats.
Launch of Key DHR–ICMR Initiatives
Several significant initiatives were launched at the summit.
MedTech Mitra’s Innovator’s Guidebook for In-Vitro Diagnostics
This guidebook, jointly developed by ICMR and CDSCO, offers innovators a structured pathway for planning clinical sample–based performance evaluations. It aligns innovation milestones with regulatory and ethical requirements, enabling innovators to generate robust clinical evidence.
Transfer of 11 New Technologies
As reported by pib.gov.in, ICMR transferred 11 indigenously developed technologies to three companies. These include RT-LAMP assays for detecting Nipah, Monkeypox, and SARS-CoV-2; ELISAs for Measles, Japanese Encephalitis, and Kyasanur Forest Disease; multiplex RT-PCR assays for detecting SARS-CoV-2, influenza viruses, dengue, chikungunya, and Zika; CRISPR-based diagnostics for tuberculosis; a digital PCR assay for early TB detection; and advanced molecular assays for timely and accurate diagnosis.
Assistive Technologies Guidelines and Kits
Low-Cost ARAT Kit for Upper Limb Assessment
Developed by CARE-DAT at IIT Delhi and AIIMS Delhi, the ARAT Kit provides a standardized method to assess upper limb function in individuals with neurological impairments. Its low-cost design significantly improves accessibility for physiotherapists, occupational therapists, rehabilitation centers, and hospitals. The kit supports clinical goal-setting, monitoring progress, and facilitating evidence-based rehabilitation, and is also suitable for tele-rehabilitation.
National Standards for Essential Assistive Products (NLEAP)
ICMR and BIS jointly developed national standards for 21 essential assistive products. These standards ensure safety, quality, and performance, while supporting clinical validation, indigenous manufacturing, and large-scale procurement. They also guide policymakers and strengthen India’s commitment to “Access to Assistive Technology for All.”
Revamped Standard Treatment Workflows (STWs)
ICMR introduced an updated Standard Treatment Workflows website and mobile app. The improved platform simplifies complex medical guidelines, enabling clinicians across primary, secondary, and tertiary care to make timely, evidence-based decisions. This strengthens efforts toward Universal Health Coverage and enhances the delivery of services under Ayushman Bharat–PMJAY.
Launch of ICMR Pensioners’ Portal
ICMR launched a dedicated portal to support its pensioners with a comprehensive, one-stop platform for pension-related services. The portal provides access to pension slips, dependent details, CGHS information, grievance redressal, medical bill support, and the Online Life Certificate through Jeevan Pramaan.