As the nation advances toward the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, the question is not only about how to treat disease, but how one builds a health system that is anticipatory, equitable, and innovation-driven. At the heart of this transformation lies a reimagined approach to health, one that connects data to decisions and decisions to impact.
Building on the hard-earned lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), India’s apex body for biomedical research, has undertaken a series of forward-looking reforms. These reforms range from reimagining its institutional architecture to strengthening the way research is funded and translated into impact. This shift reflects a deliberate move towards integrated, institute-led research aligned with national priorities, where science is designed not just to generate knowledge, but to solve pressing public health challenges.
Also Read | India should chart own path in treatment of rare diseases: ICMR chief
A strategic reorientation
A cornerstone of this transformation is the restructuring of the ICMR’s institutional architecture. Recent reforms have expanded the mandates of several institutes, repositioning them as interdisciplinary hubs rather than narrowly defined entities. The evolution of institutes toward domains such as digital health and data science, child health, and women’s health reflect the changing contours of India’s disease burden and technological capabilities. Another important step is the creation of a network of regional National Institutes of Health Research across the country, from Dibrugarh in the Northeast to Jodhpur in the west. These institutes will conduct operational research with State and district health systems to ensure that relevant research is conducted and the output is used on the ground. These changes signal a strategic reorientation toward future-ready science, where AI, genomics, and real-time data systems are integral to public health decision-making.
Equally important is the shift from compartmentalised functioning to a connected national research ecosystem. Institutes are now envisioned as resource centres that contribute to a shared national mission, ensuring that evidence generated in one setting informs action across the country. This systems-level thinking is critical in an era where health challenges, be it antimicrobial resistance, pandemics, or non-communicable diseases, are complex and interconnected. Similarly, the research funding ecosystem is also going through a redesign.
This integrated continuum marks a decisive shift from funding projects to enabling solutions. It is further reinforced by the National Health Research Programme (NHRP), which has identified 13 priority areas ranging from antimicrobial resistance and tuberculosis to mental health, nutrition, and emergency care.
Technology, too, is playing a transformative role. The integration of AI into diagnostics, surveillance, and program implementation is helping bridge longstanding gaps between urban and rural healthcare. AI-enabled tools for tuberculosis and diabetic retinopathy screening are already supporting frontline health workers, while innovations such as AI-driven nutritional monitoring are improving program delivery at scale. The i-Drone initiative, which began with vaccine delivery and has expanded to transport critical medical supplies, exemplifies how cutting-edge technology can overcome geographic barriers and bring care closer to communities. At the frontier of science, advances across the medtech gamut, from medical devices and diagnostics to next-generation vaccines and therapeutics, are enabling more targeted, patient-centric interventions. In parallel, the integration of traditional knowledge systems through innovative, evidence-based models is gaining global recognition. Schemes such as First in the World Challenge complemented with platforms such as MedTechMitra and the Medical Innovations-Patent Mitra initiative are accelerating the journey from research to commercialisation, ensuring that publicly funded science translates into affordable, accessible technologies for the people.
Towards universal access
The true measure of these reforms, however, lies in their impact on public health. Initiatives such as the India Hypertension Control Initiative have demonstrated how evidence-based strategies can transform chronic disease management at scale. Mission-mode programmes in emergency care, including mobile stroke units and rapid cardiac response systems, are redefining outcomes in life-threatening conditions. Expanded diagnostic networks and indigenous technologies are strengthening early detection and treatment across diseases ranging from cancer to infectious outbreaks. These efforts are closely aligned with the National Health Policy 2017, which emphasises preventive and promotive healthcare, universal access, and quality of care.
As we look to the future, the vision is clear. The ICMR will continue to serve as a catalyst, bringing together researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and the industry to build a resilient health ecosystem. The roadmap to 2047 will be shaped by advances in digital health, bio-manufacturing, and sustainable development, with a strong emphasis on capacity building and global collaboration. The transformation underway within the ICMR is an invitation to all stakeholders to participate in this journey and to ensure that science serves society in the most meaningful way.
Dr. Rajiv Bahl is Secretary to Govt. of India, Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and Director-General, Indian Council of Medical Research
Published – June 08, 2026 12:40 am IST