National Cancer Institute head G.K. Rath on Saturday urged young medical professionals to engage more in clinical research to combat non-communicable diseases and added that the Centre is commissioning more world-class Translational Research Centres.
Dr. Rath, who is also professor in Radiation Oncology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, was delivering the seventh convocation address of Yenepoya University here.
“We can certainly say that we now have the arsenal of knowledge and adequate infrastructure to conduct scientific research of international standards. The centres will provide finest research facilities. Degrees like MD-PhDs are being planned to have pool of clinical scientists which is very much required for our country,” he said.
He noted that developments in the medical field have increased the average life expectancy from 32 years during the pre-Independence era to 68 years at present, he said.
This has happened following overall improvement in public health measures. The success story includes eradication of some diseases like Smallpox and Polio.
However, non communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, strokes etc, are increasing and account for major causes of morbidity and mortality now, he said.
The magnitude of NCDs is rising in both urban and rural population. Hence, health care professionals have to find ways and means to effectively tackle the dual problem, he said.
One cannot have a “one size fits all” because of the wide variety. However, advancements in biotechnology, information technology and genomics have helped mapping of human genome thereby helping accurate diagnosis of complicated diseases, Dr. Rath said.
The Union government has formulated the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancers, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS). The flagship programme of the Indian council of Medical Research, NCRP (National Cancer Registry Programme) has been expanded to form NCDIR (National Council of Disease Informatics and Research).
University Chancellor Yenepoya Abdulla Kunhi and others were present.