Govt to introduce Kerala model health research

Thiruvananthapuram: The state health department has taken steps to introduce a new Kerala model research in the field of health. The research aims to prepare effective health projects for prevention of contagious diseases and control of lifestyle diseases.

At present, health research is carried out under medical colleges and other autonomous institutes as per the available details. But the health department never makes use of these research. Planning of health programmes are affected as the department is not undertaking any research.

The Health department has experience in the treatment of lifestyle diseases, contagious diseases like Nipah and timely response to other disasters. Usually, the department records the details collected annually and hands it over to agencies under Union Health ministry on demand.

Among these details, a few will be published through websites. Most of the details will not be accessible to media without filing RTI plea. The department has decided to use these data collections practically.

Committee for coordination

With an aim to coordinate the research activities, state Health Systems Resource Centre will be appointed as nodal agency. A committee including Department secretary, director, National Health Mission director, Health Systems Resource Centre executive director will decide on the research topics. This committee will take leadership of the state-level resource team for research.

Health directorate will deploy qualified employees for research works. The research will be carried out in association with Achutha Menon Centre Centre for Health Science Studies under Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, medical colleges, universities and other major institutes.

Participation of senior medical officers including public health nurses, health inspectors and staff nurse will be assured in the research. Research projects will be prepared with the support from Primary Health Centres and Family Health Centres. Priority will be given to research on the basis of evidence and experiences.