India is set to strengthen healthcare services and biomedical research in its mountainous regions with the establishment of the country’s first dedicated ICMR Centre for High Altitude Medicine and Public Health Research. The new facility will come up in Keylong, located in Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul and Spiti district, and aims to address the unique health challenges faced by people living in high-altitude and remote Himalayan areas.
Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda will lay the foundation stone for the centre, which is being developed by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The institution will upgrade the existing ICMR field station at Keylong into a multidisciplinary research hub focused on high-altitude medicine, climate-sensitive diseases, and public health. Researchers, healthcare professionals, and policymakers are expected to benefit from the centre’s specialised work in understanding how extreme environmental conditions affect human health.
Living at high altitudes exposes people to reduced oxygen levels, harsh weather conditions, difficult terrain, and limited access to healthcare facilities. These factors increase the risk of altitude-related illnesses such as acute mountain sickness, pulmonary and cerebral oedema, while also complicating the management of chronic diseases. The new research centre will study these conditions in detail and develop evidence-based strategies to improve prevention, diagnosis, and treatment for residents, tourists, defence personnel, and emergency responders operating in mountainous regions.
The centre’s research agenda will extend beyond altitude sickness to include climate-sensitive diseases, nutrition, maternal and child health, mental health, ageing, environmental health, and the impact of changing climatic conditions on Himalayan communities. Scientists will also examine how long-term exposure to high altitudes influences human physiology and disease patterns, generating data that can support better healthcare planning and policy decisions.
Technology will play a major role in the functioning of the facility. The centre plans to leverage telemedicine, drone-based delivery of medicines and diagnostic samples, and digital health tools to improve access to medical services in remote and difficult-to-reach areas. These innovations are expected to reduce delays in diagnosis and treatment while strengthening healthcare delivery for isolated populations across the Himalayan region.
Apart from research, the institution will serve as a centre for training and capacity building. Doctors, researchers, healthcare workers, and public health professionals will receive specialised training in high-altitude medicine and emergency healthcare. The centre is also expected to collaborate with national and international research organisations to advance scientific knowledge in mountain medicine and climate-resilient healthcare.
The initiative reflects India’s growing emphasis on strengthening healthcare infrastructure in geographically challenging regions while building scientific expertise in emerging areas of medical research. By combining advanced biomedical research with innovative healthcare delivery systems, the ICMR Centre for High Altitude Medicine and Public Health Research is expected to improve health outcomes for Himalayan communities and contribute valuable insights into altitude-related diseases. The facility is also likely to play an important role in supporting disaster preparedness, border healthcare, and long-term public health planning in India’s mountain regions.
