Union Health Secretary calls for expanding digital medical resources to all medical colleges
Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava calls for extending digital health resources to every medical college in India to boost research and education.
In a major push to modernize medical education and research across the country, the Union Health Secretary has called for the expansion of digital medical resources to every medical college in India.
Speaking at the 5th One-Day National Training-cum-Conference on the ERMED Consortium in New Delhi, Punya Salila Srivastava, Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, emphasized that equitable access to quality medical literature is essential for the future of healthcare delivery.
Bridging the Gap in Medical Education
While the National Medical Library (NML) network has already expanded to 93 medical colleges, the Secretary highlighted a significant gap that needs to be addressed. She stressed the urgent need to extend these digital learning resources to all medical institutions, with a specific focus on those located in underserved areas.
The initiative aims to ensure that no medical student or practitioner is left behind due to geographical or institutional limitations. According to the Secretary, well-equipped libraries and accessible digital tools are no longer luxuries but necessities to strengthen professional competence in a rapidly evolving field.
Nurturing an Indigenous Research Culture
A central theme of the address was the necessity of building India's own scientific and research capabilities. Aligning with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Srivastava noted that while India can rely on international research, true progress requires a domestic research ecosystem.
"We may be able to manage with research conducted elsewhere, but that alone cannot fulfil our resolve to build a strong research ecosystem of our own. For this, we must develop a research mindset, and access to digital health resources is crucial to nurturing that mindset."
She pointed out that digital health resources act as vital enablers for innovation and original inquiry, allowing Indian researchers to contribute meaningfully to global medical science rather than just consuming existing knowledge.
The Roadmap for Viksit Bharat
To achieve the goal of a "Viksit Bharat" (Developed India), the Secretary urged the National Medical Library to create a comprehensive roadmap. This plan should include:
- Artificial Intelligence Integration: Exploring how AI can enhance healthcare education, research, and professional development.
- One Nation One Subscription: Leveraging initiatives like the ERMED Consortium and the "One Nation One Subscription" model to broaden access to scholarly publications.
- State-Level Support: Providing guidance to States and Union Territories to adopt best practices in medical library management.
- Knowledge Exchange: Organizing seminars to identify effective models and improve the nationwide utilization of digital educational resources.
The conference, themed “Digital Health Resources: Redefining Access Through Libraries,” highlighted how digital tools are transforming evidence-based clinical practice and strengthening the very foundations of medical training in India.