The Hindu : Medical scientists to discuss SARS strategy

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 09, 2003

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Medical scientists to discuss SARS strategy

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI May 8. The Centre has proposed to hold a meeting of medical scientists soon to work out a strategy to tackle the new threat posed by SARS — Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.

The meeting is being held in the backdrop of fears expressed by public health experts that even if the present epidemic has not had much of an impact in India, one could not remain complacent as the virus causing the disease has been found in the country and outbreaks could not be ruled out.

The Secretary, Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Manju Sharma, said it would particularly focus on a work plan to develop techniques for early diagnosis. It was likely to be held in about a fortnight.

Ms. Sharma said her department was also taking up a major initiative to promote research in mental health, with a particular focus on age-related degenerative disorders, considering that the proportion of the aged in the population was growing steadily.

Among other things, emphasis is being laid on validating the ayurvedic cures using modern scientific tools. "The Department was trying to tap the rich knowledge base of the traditional medicine systems such as ayurveda."

She was speaking to reporters after a brief ceremony where the Director, National Brain Research Centre, under the Department, Vijayalakshmi Ravindran, and the Director, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences under the Union Health Ministry, D.N. Nagaraja, signed a memorandum of understanding for joint research on brain-related disorders.

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