I am neither a doctor nor a man of academics nor of Research. Over the years, all that I have learnt about research is because of my close association with Dr. Ashok Vaidya, Dr. (Mrs.) Rama Vaidya and their team. Kasturba Health Society also runs a full-fledged Medical College at Sevagram, with excellent applied research facilities associated with urban level hospital. Years back, when we launched the medical research centre at Mumbai, I had stated “Our new venture, this Medical Centre is now here to serve the urban population with integrated health care to wake up slumbering giant of Ayurveda for good health”. We are grateful to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for granting to Kasturba Health Society, under Dr. Ashok Vaidya the first advanced centre of Reverse Pharmacology in the world. Over the years it is heartening to note that scientists from several countries have taken up Reverse Pharmacology (RP). The global interest in RP has been on the increase. There is much scope of new drug discovery from the traditional medicine for malaria, diabetes, arthritis, cancer and osteoporosis through RP.
The Integrated health care, at MRC, has pioneered services in rehabilitative medicine, disability care, musculoskeletal health, cervical cancer and women’s endocrine disorders and infections. Orations, lectures, seminars and training programmes organized by MRC-KHS, have uniqueness of integral learning which is appreciated by all.
We have been holding Prof. PK Devi orations for many years. The first one was by a Nobel Laureate Prof. Sune Bergstrom on Girl Child’s Health, long before it became a battle cry. Our faculty has been sought out for prestigious orations. They have also served on many national and international research councils and editorial boards. Several modules for health awareness, education and care have been evolved e.g., Maitreyi for menopausal health, SHEEL for school children and Steps to Swasthya for obesity and metabolic disorders. These modules had a major impact in their respective fields. Our PhD students and junior faculty enliven the centre with their creative research, enthusiasm and awards.
With the launch of the website, the activities at MRC-KHS will be readily available to global netizens. At Kasturba Health Society, we believe in Gandhian ethos, strongly reinforced by late Dr. Sushila Nayar, of simplicity, humility and services before self. May all the feedback we receive on the internet keep us steady on that path!
Dhiru Mehta
President
Kasturba Health Society