Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, J.P. Nadda is scheduled to lay the foundation stone for the ICMR Centre for High Altitude Medicine and Public Health Research in Keylong, Himachal Pradesh on July 11. This center, established by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), will transform ICMR’s current field station in Keylong into a comprehensive hub for research, innovation, and capacity building, focusing on India’s high-altitude and climate-sensitive regions.
The Ministry of Health announced on social media that this new center will be the first dedicated facility for high altitude medicine and public health research by ICMR. It aims to enhance climate-resilient healthcare and biomedical research in the Himalayan region, addressing the unique public health challenges posed by the high altitude, extreme climate, difficult terrain, and climate variability of the Himalayas.
The ICMR Centre in Keylong will conduct research on various aspects including high-altitude physiology, mountain medicine, climate-sensitive diseases, infectious and non-communicable diseases, maternal and child health, nutrition, mental health, environmental and occupational health, and disaster medicine. Additionally, it will incorporate digital health technologies, telemedicine, drone-enabled healthcare logistics, and real-time public health surveillance to enhance healthcare services in remote areas.
This initiative is aligned with the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat in health research and aims to strengthen health systems to be more climate-resilient and inclusive. The inauguration ceremony on July 11 will involve traditional rituals, plantation activities, a scientific exhibition, website launch, and the unveiling of a special postal cover. Dignitaries from various sectors, including Members of Parliament, Defence Secretary, Chief Secretary of Himachal Pradesh, officials from Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, ICMR, armed forces, partner institutions, scientists, and local community members, are expected to attend.
