The Union government has proposed an ambitious overhaul of India’s health research ecosystem through the Draft National Health Research Policy 2026, outlining a long-term strategy to strengthen scientific innovation, improve healthcare outcomes, and increase public investment in research. Released by the Department of Health Research, the draft policy seeks to modernise the country’s research framework and align it with the vision of a developed India by 2047.
One of the policy’s key proposals is a significant increase in government spending on health research. Public investment, currently estimated at 0.024 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), is proposed to rise to 0.072 per cent by 2037 and further to 0.15 per cent by 2047. Although this would represent a six-fold increase, the draft notes that India would still remain below the average level of investment made by many high-income countries.
The policy identifies several priority areas requiring focused research, including tuberculosis, antimicrobial resistance, vector-borne diseases, cancer, non-communicable diseases, mental health, anaemia, child malnutrition, women’s health, maternal and neonatal mortality, primary healthcare, and emergency care. These focus areas have been selected based on disease burden, emerging public health threats, and national healthcare priorities.
A major reform proposed in the draft is a shift in how scientists and research institutions are evaluated. Instead of relying mainly on the number of research papers published or grants secured, the government wants greater emphasis on the real-world impact of scientific work. Researchers would be assessed on how their findings contribute to public health programmes, clinical guidelines, policymaking, indigenous technologies, innovation, healthcare delivery, and measurable improvements in health outcomes. The proposal aims to encourage research that delivers practical benefits for society rather than focusing solely on academic output.
To support this change, the policy recommends wider adoption of the Indian Council of Medical Research’s Impact of Research and Innovation Scale (ICMR-IRIS), which measures the broader influence of scientific research beyond publications. It also proposes creating a National Health Research Agenda that will regularly identify research priorities and guide funding decisions according to the country’s evolving health needs.
The draft policy also addresses structural challenges affecting India’s research ecosystem. It calls for stronger collaboration among universities, hospitals, industry, startups, and government agencies while reducing duplication of research efforts. Other proposals include simplifying ethics approvals for multi-centre studies, establishing a National Research Integrity Office to uphold scientific standards, promoting responsible use of artificial intelligence in health research, and expanding shared access to laboratories, biobanks, and research infrastructure.
To broaden participation in scientific research, the policy encourages states to prepare their own health research agendas based on local disease patterns while remaining aligned with national priorities. It also seeks greater investment from private industry, philanthropic organisations, and corporate social responsibility initiatives to complement public funding. The draft has been opened for public consultation until 27 July, after which the government is expected to finalise the policy. If implemented effectively, the proposed reforms could strengthen India’s research capacity, improve healthcare innovation, and ensure that scientific discoveries translate into meaningful public health outcomes.
