THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The functioning of the Multidisciplinary Research Unit (MRU) at Medical College Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram, has come to a standstill. Set up by the Centre to strengthen research and improve the population’s overall health status, the Unit was involved in several research studies, offering invaluable exposure to medicos.
The Kerala Government Medical College Teachers Association is blaming the red tape for the plight of the MRU, which is vital for Kerala to study the diseases prevalent in the region and for the betterment of the public. The Association has submitted a letter to the Health Minister Veena George seeking immediate action to make the MRU fully operational.
According to official sources, the Unit was functioning till a few months back and was conducting molecular studies.“For the past year, the operation of the MRU has been in limbo due to a lack of qualified scientists and technicians,” said an official.
“The state government or the health department do not have to pitch in any funds for the operations of the MRU, but because of their apathy, such a useful facility has become idle,” the official added. At present, there’s only one research staff working at the Unit, but the contract is set to expire soon. “The staff are recruited on a contract basis, and the government is not renewing or giving extensions to their current contracts or recruiting new staff. We have taken this up with the Health Minister,” the official said.
The MRU started functioning around eight years ago at the Medical College Hospital. The Centre introduced MRUs back in 2013-14 to strengthen the research environment, bridge the gap in infrastructure inhibiting health research, and improve the population’s overall health status by creating evidence-based applications of diagnostic procedures.