What ails medical research in Pakistan? Role of institutions

Open Access The tremendous advancement in medical research in USA owes much to the Flexner's report in 1910 which suggested making the scientific research an essential component of medical curriculum. 1 National Institute of Health (NIH) of the United States during 1946-50, put the biomedical research as its top priority and faculty was encouraged to implant the " virus of curiosity and inquiry " very early in the curriculum. 2 Backed by a strong political will, medical research blossomed in that country. Many countries around the world adopted this course and have developed a strong research base. Unfortunately in Pakistan, research in general, and medical research in particular, has been the low priority area for the Government of Pakistan. Pakistan Medical Research Council (PMRC) was established more than 50 years ago with the main tasks to organize, coordinate and promote medical research within the country and advise the Federal and Provincial Governments on all matters related to medical research and healthcare. 3 In spite of financial constraints, it did make some contribution towards developing guidelines for certain national committees and programs, conducted National Health Survey of Pakistan, provided small research grants (Rs. 200,000) and started Pakistan Journal of Medical Research in 1958 which has yet to get indexed in PubMed. Its scientific personnel include only 14 PhD scholars. 3 On the other hand, Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) has 26 national institutes and 6 regional research centers to address health problems of the country and it publishes a prestigious Indian J Med Res with a reasonable impact factor. 4 Dearth of physician scientists is a global problem and of greater magnitude in Pakistan because of lack of monetary incentives for medical graduates to get attracted to the PhD path. While there are a few physician scientists in various institutes of PMRC, ICMR has addressed this issue by offering Emeritus Scientists positions to retired medical scientists thereby enabling them to continue research on various medical projects. 4 Being affiliated with the Ministry of Health, PMRC could have played a more proactive role in addressing Millennium Development Goals (MDGs): number 4 (reduce child mortality of under-five-year-old by two thirds by 2015), number 5 (reduce maternal mortality by three quarters and provide access to universal reproductive health) and number 6 (combat HIV/AIDs, malaria and tuberculosis etc.), in Pakistan. However, for a wide variety of reasons including meagre funding and subnormal capacity, it …