Draft national health research policy proposes overhaul of India’s research ecosystem

The Department of Health Research (DHR) has introduced a draft national health research policy designed to overhaul and streamline India’s diverse research sectors. This initiative represents the country’s first attempt to establish a comprehensive, unified framework to govern and promote scientific inquiry across various health-related fields.

According to the draft, the proposed framework will span multiple critical areas, including biomedical science, clinical medicine, public health, and epidemiology. It also addresses modern sectors such as digital health, health systems, behavioral sciences, and emerging technological advancements to ensure the research ecosystem remains globally competitive.

By integrating these disparate disciplines under a single policy umbrella, the DHR aims to foster better collaboration and resource allocation within the national infrastructure. The document is currently open for assessment as the government seeks to modernize the regulatory and developmental environment for Indian researchers. Source: Department of Health Research.