The Kerala University of Health Sciences is planning to start research schools to promote research activities among young doctors in the state. Dr Praveen Lal, the former principal of the Thrissur Medical College, will soon be joining the university as dean for research activities. Once the research schools come into being, students in all affiliated colleges including medical colleges who are interested in pursuing a career in research will be able to choose subjects in their areas of interest. Apart from research activities in modern medicine, the university is also planning to encourage similar programmes in more than 200 affiliated colleges in areas as diverse as homeopathy, Indian systems of medicine including Ayurveda, Siddha, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani and other allied sciences. “We want to encourage research in all streams and even focus on inter disciplinary programmes involving modern medicine and Indian system of medicine,” the KUHAS vice chancellor, Dr K. Mohandas, told Deccan Chronicle. “The plan is to create a positive environment for research activities which needs to be given a push in the state.” As the director of the Sri Chitra Thirunal Institute for Medical Science and Technology (SCTIMST), Dr Mohandas had conducted a study of 360 research papers published in 1989-94. Of these, less than 50 were from the five medical colleges. “I don’t think there is much change in the situation at the moment,’’ he added.
Source : Deccan Chronicle
