Nadda Lays Foundation Stone of ICMR High Altitude Medicine and Public Health Research Centre in Keylong.
Centre to strengthen preventive healthcare, address unique health challenges of Himalayan communities and develop medical solutions for extreme-altitude conditions.
Shimla:
Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare and Chemicals and Fertilizers Jagat Prakash Nadda on Monday performed the Bhumi Pujan and laid the foundation stone of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Centre for High Altitude Medicine and Public Health Research at Keylong in Himachal Pradesh. The centre is expected to strengthen scientific research into high-altitude health challenges and improve healthcare services for people living in remote Himalayan regions and personnel deployed in extreme-altitude areas.
Addressing the gathering, Nadda highlighted the importance of dedicated scientific research to understand the health effects of low oxygen levels, extreme cold, changing climatic conditions and the distinctive lifestyles of tribal communities. He said systematic studies of these region-specific challenges would help identify health risks, develop appropriate medical interventions and strengthen preventive healthcare.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of strengthening healthcare infrastructure and ensuring access to quality medical services, Nadda said the establishment of the centre reflected the importance of addressing the specific healthcare requirements of people living in remote Himalayan and border regions.
He expressed confidence that research-based interventions would improve health outcomes and enhance the well-being of local communities as well as Armed Forces personnel serving in challenging high-altitude environments.
Nadda appreciated the collaboration between ICMR and the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) in establishing the centre. He also acknowledged the role of AIIMS Bilaspur, which would participate in research examining the health effects of high-altitude conditions on patients visiting the region.
The partnership is expected to combine scientific expertise, clinical experience and the operational knowledge of the Armed Forces to develop evidence-based healthcare interventions. Nadda also recalled ICMR’s contribution to the development of India’s COVID-19 vaccine, which played an important role in the country’s response to the pandemic.
ICMR-Armed Forces Collaboration to Develop Medical Solutions
Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth, who attended the ceremony as the Guest of Honour, underlined the importance of collaboration between ICMR and the Armed Forces Medical Services.
Drawing on the experience of the Armed Forces in operating under extreme-altitude conditions, Seth said the joint research initiative would deepen scientific understanding of altitude-related health challenges and support the development of effective medical solutions.
He said combining ICMR’s research capabilities with the practical experience of the Armed Forces Medical Services would help improve understanding of the effects of high altitude on the human body. The findings are expected to benefit both military personnel stationed in difficult terrain and civilians residing in high-altitude regions.
Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja, Director General of the Armed Forces Medical Services, said research conducted at the centre would directly strengthen medical care for soldiers deployed in some of the world’s most demanding high-altitude environments.
He emphasised that combining field experience with scientific research would help translate findings into practical medical protocols for acclimatisation, early detection of health complications and treatment. The resulting knowledge would also benefit local communities facing similar environmental conditions.
Research to Benefit Himalayan Communities Across India
Leader of Opposition in the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly and former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur described the establishment of the research centre as a significant step towards understanding the distinctive health challenges faced by people living in high-altitude regions.
He said research into the effects of extreme cold, low oxygen levels and difficult geographical conditions would help develop improved healthcare solutions for Himachal Pradesh and other high-altitude regions in India and abroad.
Mandi MP Kangana Ranaut said improved connectivity had transformed life in remote parts of Himachal Pradesh, which previously remained isolated for several months because of difficult geographical conditions.
She described the establishment of the centre in Keylong as an important step towards advancing scientific research, improving understanding of high-altitude health challenges and contributing to the well-being of people in the Himalayan region and beyond.
Former Lahaul and Spiti MLA Ravi Thakur also expressed confidence that research undertaken at Keylong would lead to better healthcare services and preventive measures for communities across neighbouring Himalayan regions.
Drone-Based Medicine Delivery, Digital Health and AI to Be Explored
The new centre will focus on generating scientific evidence on the effects of high altitude, low oxygen levels, extreme cold and changing climatic conditions on human health.
An important component of its research agenda will be exploring how emerging technologies, including drone-enabled medicine delivery, digital health solutions and artificial intelligence, can improve access to healthcare in remote and difficult-to-reach areas.
The research will cover several critical areas, including altitude-related health risks, acclimatisation, maternal and newborn health, child growth and nutrition, and disease patterns among Himalayan communities.
The findings are expected to inform healthcare practices, strengthen preventive and clinical approaches for personnel deployed at high altitudes and improve medical services for people living in remote Himalayan and border regions.
The centre is expected to benefit communities across Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.
Permanent Research Facility to Strengthen High-Altitude Healthcare
Secretary of the Department of Health Research and Director General of ICMR, Rajiv Bahl, outlined the scientific vision behind the initiative. He said Keylong would become a place where laboratory-based research and community-level healthcare needs would come together, with local residents participating as partners in research.
He acknowledged the contributions of the Armed Forces Medical Services, the Himachal Pradesh government and the local community in establishing the institution.
The centre builds on an ICMR field station established at Keylong nearly a decade ago. It will function as a permanent, year-round research institution equipped with modern laboratories and specialised human resources.
Its central mandate will be to develop scientific evidence on the health effects of extreme environmental conditions and support the creation of effective preventive and clinical healthcare strategies.
By bringing together ICMR, the Armed Forces Medical Services, AIIMS Bilaspur and other research institutions, the centre aims to bridge the gap between scientific findings and practical healthcare solutions.
Scientific Exhibition, Website Launch and Green Campus Initiative
During the ceremony, Nadda and other dignitaries planted native Himalayan saplings under the Green ICMR Campus Initiative.
The Union Health Minister also inaugurated a scientific exhibition for school students, launched the centre’s website and institutional video, and released a commemorative postal special cover to mark key milestones in the establishment of the research facility.
Senior officers of the Armed Forces Medical Services and the Indian Air Force, scientists, Panchayati Raj representatives and local residents attended the event.
The establishment of the ICMR Centre for High Altitude Medicine and Public Health Research is expected to strengthen India’s research capabilities in high-altitude medicine and contribute to the development of evidence-based healthcare solutions for soldiers, tribal communities and other populations living in the challenging environmental conditions of the Himalayan region.
