Centre for High Altitude Medicine and Public Health Research

Why in News?

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has announced the establishment of India's first dedicated Centre for High Altitude Medicine and Public Health Research.

• Located at – Keylong in Lahaul & Spiti district, Himachal Pradesh.
• Setup by – Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

• Objective – The Centre is designed to generate context-specific scientific evidence and develop scalable healthcare solutions for populations living in mountainous and remote regions.
• Role – It provides year-round access to high-altitude and tribal communities, enabling long-term field studies and public health research.
• Key Areas of Research – The Centre will undertake multidisciplinary research in:
• High-altitude physiology and acclimatisation
• Mountain medicine
• Climate-sensitive and emerging diseases
• Infectious and non-communicable diseases (NCDs)
• Maternal and child health
• Nutrition and mental health
• Environmental and occupational health
• Disaster and emergency medicine
• The research will strengthen understanding of how altitude, climate change, and environmental factors influence human health while supporting evidence-based policymaking.
• Technological Innovations – To improve healthcare delivery in difficult Himalayan terrain, the Centre will integrate:
• Digital health platforms
• Telemedicine services
• Drone-enabled transportation of medicines, vaccines, and diagnostic samples
• Real-time public health surveillance systems
• These technologies aim to bridge geographical barriers and improve access to quality healthcare in remote areas.
• Institutional Collaborations – The Centre will collaborate with:
• Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS)
• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
• Government of Himachal Pradesh
• National and international universities and research institutions
• Such partnerships will promote translational research, innovation, and policy support in high-altitude medicine.
• Significance – The Centre represents a major milestone in India's biomedical research ecosystem by creating the country's first dedicated institution for high-altitude medicine and public health.
• It will support national priorities in tribal health, disaster preparedness, climate-resilient healthcare, digital health innovation, and border-area development.

Reference

PIB| Centre for High Altitude Medicine and Public Health Research