Government should invest in R&D: Dr Soumya Swaminathan

Dr Swaminathan added that the government should lead in terms of investment, which will allow the private sector to follow suit.

“The Western model of research is unfortunately profit based. This research would happen only if there is a profit motive,” she said. The Indian model, she said, should be different and the government has to invest substantially in it. “The private sector would then follow suit,” she said.

The book launch organised by the Pune International Centre saw a discussion called ‘The Silent Epidemic’ with Dr Raman Gangakhedkar, former head of epidemiology and communicable diseases, Indian Council of Medical Research, and Dr Vinay Kulkarni, coordinator Prayas Health Group, in participation.

Dr Swaminathan spoke about how tuberculosis was the silent pandemic. “Every day around 1,000 people die of tuberculosis in India. But unfortunately it does not get the attention it requires,” she said.

She added that the HIV pandemic came into news when the pressure groups in US started talking about it. Dr Gangakhedkar talked about the rise in antibiotic resistance, which is a cause of concern. “Unfortunately the body of antibiotics is really low and we should ensure resistance is not built,” he said. Indiscriminate usage of antibiotics and over the counter sale of drugs he said was responsible for this. Earlier Dr Raghunath Mashelkar, president, PIC, launched the book and spoke at the occasion.

Dr Gangakhedkar and Dr Kulkarni said mpox would not spread too much in India. The present clade, Dr Gangakhedkar said, was not very infectious.