Central sector scheme of human resource development for health research under the 12th Plan

No: ----- Dated: Feb, 28 2014

Central sector scheme of human resource development for health research under the 12th Plan

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the proposal of the Department of Health Research (DHR) in the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare for the central sector scheme of Human Resource Development for Health Research under the 12th Plan at an estimated cost of Rs.597 crore.

The scheme is intended to create a pool of talented health research personnel in the country by upgrading skills of faculty of medical colleges, mid- career scientists, medical students etc through specialized training in priority areas of health research in leading national and international institutions. The scheme shall also encourage and support trainees to develop and take up research projects for addressing critical national and local health problems and financial assistance to institutions for up- gradation of infrastructure to enable such institutions to provide training with state of the art technologies. Development and implementation of online web based courses on health research is also an important component of scheme.

The Scheme inter alia provides for grant of 2585 fellowships for training in Indian and abroad and development of 1694 research projects by the trainees during the 12th Plan period. About one third of the fellowships will be given to Government medical colleges /institutions with a focus on health research priorities of the country and synergy with other schemes of DHR.

The scheme has a separate component specifically for training of about 240 women scientists who have had break in their careers and to encourage Non¬resident Indians (NRIs), Persons of Indian Origin (PIO), Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) serving abroad in health research activities, to come back to India for undertaking research in identified areas.

Support will also be provided to scientists/professionals/ association/bodies engaged in the fields of medicine, surgery, microbiology, pathology etc. for undertaking various activities and events to promote higher standards in medical/health research and for devising guidelines for policy making and prevention and management of different diseases.