ICMR and ICAR sign pact to enhance cooperation in the field of zoonoses

NEW DELHI: Giving a fillip to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ideas of synchronization of all research works, two research institutes having expertise in finding out remedies for treating human and animal diseases have joined their hands together to find out trend of transfer of diseases from animals to human and vice versa.

In a historic agreement, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) would together work for pursuance of one health initiative under joint collaboration. Initially, the both the research institutes will work together in four areas which include zoonoses, antimicrobial resistance, pesticide residues and nutrition as these areas are important and would generate authentic and fruitful information for safe public health. Commenting on the agreement, Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said, “There is an urgent need to enhance scientific knowledge that forces economic growth and social development of the country. We are in cognizance of the huge demographic dividend that our country stands to reap, at this point in time and healthcare along with agriculture are one of the most important sectors for us.”

Speaking on the occasion, Health Minister JP Nadda that in line with the vision of the PM Modi,we shouldn't work in silos and this MOU gives us an opportunity to work beyond the silos we have created.

“We have been working very closely with the agriculture sector, however this MOU will give us a structured set up to carry our work forward. There is paucity of data regarding occurrence of zoonotic diseases, their modes of transmission to humans, sensitive and specific clinical and laboratory diagnostic tools. Suitable strategies to prevent them would be of utmost important especially in India,” Nadda said.