The draft National Health Research Policy proposes the creation of the National Health Research Agenda (NHRA) as India's central framework for health research. The agenda aims to guide research priorities and investments, reduce fragmentation across the sector, promote collaboration among stakeholders, and drive the research ecosystem from documenting health challenges to developing evidence-based solutions.
NHRA to Be Led by ICMR
The agenda, spearheaded by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) as the principal national agency for biomedical and health research under the Department of Health Research, will support a balanced national portfolio to address persistent health challenges.
According to the draft, research shall be deepened on persistent health challenges that continue to impose major burdens on the population. These include tuberculosis, vector-borne diseases, antimicrobial resistance, mental health, metabolic and other non-communicable diseases, cancer, anaemia, child malnutrition, women's health, maternal and neonatal mortality, primary health care and emergency care.
Shared Reference for Stakeholders
“The agenda shall serve as a shared reference for Government of India scientific departments, health research institutions, states and Union Territories in formulating their own research priorities, taking into account local context, disease burden, health system realities, institutional capability, and India's long-term vision under Viksit Bharat 2047. The Department of Health Research shall serve as the nodal department for the preparation, coordination, publication, and periodic revision of the Agenda, under the strategic guidance of the National Health Research Stewardship Committee,” the draft states.
Emerging Sectors Prioritized
Research in emerging sectors such as digital health, artificial intelligence and data science in health, cell and gene therapy, obesity, climate change and health will be prioritised. However, the agenda will be reviewed and revised at intervals not exceeding five years depending upon the requirement owing to epidemiological change, technological developments, or emerging national needs.
State-Level Alignment Urged
States have also been urged to enable their institutions to participate in national research programmes and align State-level priorities with the national health research agenda. The draft also proposed to establish National Health Research Missions for major health challenges that require convergence across departments.
