India and Japan signs agreement to collaborate research on AMR

The Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Shri J.P. Nadda at a bilateral meeting with the Health Minister of Malaysia, Dr Subramaniam Sathasivam, on the sidelines of the Health Ministers from WHO South East Asia region and Western Pacific region countries, in Tokyo, Japan on April 16, 2016.

Tokyo : Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Department of Bacteriology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID) of Japan signed a Letter of Intent on the sidelines of the meeting of the Health Ministers from WHO South East Asia Region and Western Pacific Region countries at Tokyo today, in the presence of Shri J P Nadda, Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare. 

Terming the collaboration as another significant milestone in the strong ties between the two countries, the Union Health Minister stated that this will further help in deepening the relations between the two in research and development in scientific areas, particularly public health. 

The letter of Intent noted that “Recognizing the global burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and its impact on global health security; Recalling ‘the Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of Republic of India in the field of healthcare’ signed on 1 September, 2014; and Desiring to start collaboration between NIID of Japan and ICMR of the Republic of India in antimicrobial resistance research to include but not limited to the following areas: 

- Development of integrated surveillance program covering epidemiology data and genomic data of antimicrobial resistance in each country

- Mutual exchange of information of molecular and epidemiological data of antimicrobial resistance by developing of comparable surveillance program in each country 

Shri J P Nadda is participating in the meeting of the Health Ministers from WHO South East Asia Region and Western Pacific Region countries, in Tokyo. At the Health Ministers’ meeting, Shri Nadda emphasized on the importance of collaborative effort and mobilizing the necessary resources for the implementation of AMR national action plans in all countries. The Indian Health Minister also underscored the need to encourage research and development and discovery of new drugs and ensure equitable and affordable access.