The editorial “Bugged by superbug” (April 25) highlights the need for quality biomedical research in India. Developing countries have a lot of expectations from the World Health Organisation (WHO) so it must do more to protect their interests. In fact, India does not have a good medical journal, which makes our case weaker at the international level. WHO should play a meaningful role in coordinating biomedical research that involves more than one country.
After the launch of the National Rural Health Mission the health ministries at national and state levels have become very important. With enhanced budget allocations the health sector now attracts competent ministers and officials. They should rise to the occasion and deliver out-of-the-box solutions.
India’s health and population sector is already flooded with different kinds of data through a number of state-sponsored sample surveys and research activities. I’m surprised that no one has questioned the utility of so much data or information, especially when much of it is recycled. Can’t we save some resources from such stereotyped studies and redirect them to prioritised health research? India can also save a lot by doubling the tenures of the Census, National Family Health Survey, Sample Registration System and so on because the print, electronic and internet media regularly provide useful information, especially in the form of qualitative data.
With due respect to the scientific findings of NDM research in India’s capital, the study violated biomedical research ethics to a great extent.
Ajay K Tripathy, Vellore
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