"It is shameful that despite all the information from surveys and existing knowledge treasure, we have not been able to do much." This was stated by Dr Nitya Anand, former director of Central Drug Research Institute who used strong words to voice his disappointment, while speaking at the Ranbaxy Science Foundation's (RSF) 29th round table conference held at New Delhi on January 22, 2013.

"Medical and the bioscience knowledge has so far not been fully utilized. To bridge this gap, all the stakeholders have to play a role. Policy making and implementation in this regard has to be very proactive. The strategy has to be implemented at multiple levels and RSF is trying to bring everybody on the same platform," added Dr Anand, who is a renowned pharmaceutical scientist and currently the chairman of RSF.

Dr Anand further cited many reports to explain the fact that, while about 30 percent of the cancers are related to the obesity, 40-50 percent of the cancer can be still prevented if timely preventive measures are taken. However, he expressed his displeasure with the non-implementation of such information in the policy making.

The event focused on preventive and promotive health, the non communicable diseases such as cancer, heart diseases, and diabetes. Prominent speakers such as Mr Jagdish Prasad, director general, Health Services, Government of India, Dr Anoop Misra, Fortis C-DOC Center of Excellence for Diabetes, Metabolic Diseases and Endocrinology, New Delhi, Dr Nikhil Tandon, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), and Dr Rajinder K Jalali of RSF, shared their views on the above topics.

RSF is a non-profit organization dedicated to promote scientific endeavours in the country by encouraging, rewarding and channeling national and international knowledge and expertise on subjects connected to the treatment of diseases afflicting mankind.