Research & Development is key for any country's growth: Mansukh Mandaviya

Puducherry: Any country, which is keen to grow and improvise, must concentrate on research and development, said Union health and family welfare minister Mansukh Mandaviya.

Speaking after laying the foundation stone for an international centre of excellence for training in medical entomology at the Indian council of medical research (ICMR) - Vector control research centre (VCRC), Puducherry on Saturday during his three-day visit to Chennai and Puducherry, Mandaviya said no nation had the pride of administering nearly two billion doses of vaccine.

Mandaviya later while inaugurating the international school of public health established at a cost of 65.6 crore at Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (Jipmer) said India under the able leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi spearheaded the fight against Covid-19 infection and developed a strong and robust mechanism to successfully manage the pandemic. He said the country saved the lives of common people through the mighty public health infrastructure. "Today is an important day not only for Jipmer, but for the entire world. This international school of public health will not only cater to the needs of the country but to the entire world keeping in tandem with the Indian philosophy of vasudhaiva kutumbakam (the world is one family)," said Mandaviya.