India-Africa together to enrich health research, ICMR and Africa Union signs the MoU
India has the fastest growing pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. African Union also has tremendous capabilities in this sector, because of growing industries in the African continent.
Understanding this potential, MoU on India-Africa Health Science Cooperation between ICMR, Delhi and African Union was signed on March 27.
According to the MEA statement, this agreement will pave the way for cooperation in R&D, Capacity Building, Health Services, Pharmaceutical trade, and manufacturing capabilities.
On this occasion, MEA stated, The signed MoU aims to formalize this partnership by establishing a framework. ICMR had taken up the mandate to initiate and strengthen the cooperation in the health sector in a structured and organized manner by establishing an India-Africa Health Sciences Collaborative Platform (IAHSP).
Further, Official statement said, In order to carry forward the strategic vision of India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) III through a structured and concrete partnership in the health sector, MEA partnered with Indian Council of Medical Research and had jointly organized the First India-Africa Health Sciences Meet in 2016 in New Delhi.
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Eng Ahmed Hamdy, Executive Director of African Union Scientific Technical and Research Commission (AU-STRC), said, “Our need is to focus on indigenous development of safe, affordable and effective drugs, diagnostics and vaccines towards addressing specific common regional disease burden and nurturing an ecosystem that has a strong impact on transforming the health standards of the population.”
On this occasion, ICMR said, “the programme would focus on training and strengthening capacity of health professionals, researchers, regulators and industry staff, support research collaborations for developing preventive tools and improved diagnostics for diseases which are regional priorities in India and Africa”.
Balram Bhargava, Director General of ICMR, said that this MoU is a major step to help enrich global health research and stitch it to regional needs of India and Africa.
COURTESY:- NEWS BHARATI
