"Setting up various nursing colleges across the country is a much-needed move. This will help prepare the nation against an outbreak like Covid-19 so that we have adequately trained medical professionals. Sickle cell anemia is one of the genetic diseases that has been posing a major setback to the country’s health status, especially our tribal population. We appreciate the announcement of the mission to eliminate this disease by 2047. In addition, extending ICMR labs facilities for public and private medical colleges and private sector R&D teams for research purposes will lead to better research outcomes and give rise to innovative solutions. This will address the research gaps in noncommunicable diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Quality research even in institutes that lack the necessary infrastructure and resources will now be possible.

It is high time that we start promoting research at the level of the pharmaceutical industry because if we are able to produce newer molecules and innovative delivery systems for medications in-house that will not only help in improving the quality of care for our people in Indian setting but also make India an important hub for pharmaceuticals R&D to provide information and research outcomes."