The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Prevalence of HIV/AIDS high in State

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 18, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Prevalence of HIV/AIDS high in State

Staff Reporter

Centre planning to launch national urban health mission
About 50,000 trained personnel will be needed for clinical research

Bangalore: “Karnataka has the dubious distinction of being one of the high-prevalence States for HIV/AIDS in the country and clinical trials are on in the northern parts of Karnataka for drugs to treat the disease,” Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Usha Ganesh said here on Monday.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Bilcare Research Academy here, Ms. Ganesh said that clinical researchers and their training was in demand, especially in States such as Karnataka where a large number of contract research organisations were carrying out research activities.

“Even though Karnataka has been placed in the fourth position in the primary healthcare scenario by a leading publication, substantial effort is needed to upgrade the health system. The focus is on bringing down the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR),” said Ms. Ganesh.

She added that after the National Rural Health Mission, the Union Government was looking at launching a national urban health mission.

Earlier, the Bilcare Research Academy, an initiative of the Pune-based Bilcare Research, which is a service provider to pharmaceutical companies in the area of research, clinical services, design laboratory and packaging materials was inaugurated by John LaMattina, senior vice-president, Pfizer Inc and president, Pfizer Global Research and Development.

Mohan Bhandari, chairman and managing director of Bilcare Research, said clinical research activity was growing at a fast pace and according to industry sources, 20,000 to 50,000 trained personnel would be needed.

In alliance with the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP), the academy offers a postgraduate diploma in clinical trial management. Bilcare had signed an agreement with ACRP.

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