Pradhan urges Union Health Minister for establishment of NIV Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: Requesting Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Harsh Vardhan for setting up of one of the four proposed National Institutes of Virology (NIVs) in the Odisha Capital, Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Dharmendra Pradhan shot off a letter to Vardhan today.

“Owing to its strategic location and skilled manpower, Bhubaneswar is well-positioned to be considered as a location for one of the four proposed NIVs,” the letter read.

Referring Bhubaneswar as a prime centre of medical research and education in eastern India, Pradhan stated NIV, Bhubaneswar will benefit from the proximity to the R&D centres of excellence such as AIIMS, ILS, ICMR-RMRC, ICAR-International Centre for Foot and Mouth Disease and boost the country’s collaborative research efforts.

NIV Bhubaneswar can cater to the population of Eastern, South-eastern and Central Indian states. This will also be in line with the Purvodaya vision of Prime Minister, the letter mentioned.

Worth mentioning, the Budget 2021 announced that four additional National Institutes of Virology will come up to strengthen India’s defences against future pandemics.

At present, a National Institute of Virology is functioning in Pune that played a critical role in the fight against the dreaded Covid virus.