As we experience the freshness of a new year and renew our expectation from 2017, a look at various policy initiatives and achievements of 2016 within various verticals of bioscience sector
As we experience the freshness of a new year and renew our expectation from 2017, a look at various policy initiatives and achievements of 2016 within various verticals of bioscience sector
BY BIOVOICE NEWS BUREAU
The year ' 2016 ' had begun on a big note. A two-day Global Biotechnology Summit on“ Destination India” was held on 5th and 6th February, 2016 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi and inaugurated by Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Harsh Vardhan. The event showcased India’ s Biotechnology strength and capacity and provided an opportunity to bring together all stakeholders to discuss opportunities, collaborations and to prepare a joint action plan for achieving the target of 100 billion US dollars for the Biotech sector by 2020.
It was followed by series of new initiatives and achievements by the Department of Biotechnology( DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India.
NEW POLICY INITIATIVES
National Biotechnology Development Strategy 2015-20
The National Biotechnology Development Strategy of the Department of Biotechnology was unveiled by Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr Harsh Vardhan and Minister of State for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Mr Y S Chowdary in the presence of Secretary, DBT, Dr K VijayRaghavan and other key stakeholders in New Delhi.
The National Biotechnology Development Strategy-2015-2020 is the direct result of formal and informal consultations over the past two years with over 300 stakeholders including scientists, educators, policy makers, leaders of industry and civil society, voluntary and nongovernment organizations, regulators and international experts. The consultations offered an opportunity to discuss and evaluate technological, societal and policy aspirations, critical success factors as well as barriers that will impede growth and put them in newer and broader perspective and action plan. A roundtable discussion was held with key stakeholders to discuss the roadmap for 2020. The key elements would be implemented in collaboration and partnership with Other Ministries, Departments, State Governments and international agencies towards achieving:
• Making India ready to meet the challenge of achieving US $ 100bn by 2025
• Launching Four Major Missions – Healthcare, Food and Nutrition, Clean Energy and Education
• Creating a Technology Development and Translation network across the country with global partnership-5 new clusters, 40 Biotech incubators, 150 TTOs, 20 Bioconnect centres
• Strategic and focussed investment in building the Human Capital by creating a Life Sciences and Biotechnology Education Council
Regional Centre for Biotechnology Bill, 2016
The Parliament passed The Regional Centre for Biotechnology Bill, 2016. The Bill establishes Regional Centre for Biotechnology, an institution of education, training and research, under the auspices of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization( UNESCO) in the National Capital Region and declares it as an institution of national importance. The Gazette of India notification has been issued.
SWASTH BHARAT
India is today a leading Vaccine Manufacturing Hub:
The Vaccine Grand Challenge Programme is under implementation to encourage novel and innovative vaccine related discoveries, accelerated development of candidate vaccines. Some major achievements are:
Rotavirus vaccine launched by Prime Minster: The first indigenously developed and manufactured Rotavirus vaccine ' Rotavac.' from an Indian strain 116E was launched by the PM Narendra Modi on 9th March, 2015. The indigenously developed vaccine will boost efforts to combat infant mortality due to diarrhoea. ROTAVAC developed in collaboration with Bharat Biotech under the Public-Private Partnership mode is efficacious in preventing severe rotavirus diarrhoea in low-resource settings in India. ROTAVAC significantly reduced severe rotavirus diarrhoea by more than half- 56 percent during the first year of life, with protection continuing into the second year of life.
Malaria Vaccine: Vaccine for falciparum malaria is under
BIOVOICENEWS. COM 11