As a means of bridging gaps in health research funding, the Medical Director, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Professor Babatunde Lawal Salako, has called on the Federal Government to revert the institution to its former status of a Medical Research Council for the nation.
Prof. Salako made the plea at the just concluded Annual Retreat 2023 of the institute, held at the Radisson Blu Anchorage Hotel, Ozumba Mbadiwe, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Acknowledging the enormity of responsibility before the government in relation to security and the state of economy, he explained that they are not asking for a new agency, but the return of the institute to a research council, as it was in the early 70s.
The NIMR DG said this will foster national development, as funded health research has potentials to proffer solutions to national challenges, poor health indices, create employment opportunities, improve new drug discovery and development, among others.
According to him, ” We decided to talk to government about the establishment of a medical research council; which is a practice in most advanced countries of the world where they serve as funding agency for health research. And this will come from right funding from government.I know government is saddled with a lot of important issues on their table, including security, state of the economy, and all of that.
“Of course, we know government is hesitating to establish new agency, but we are not asking for new agency. We are asking that the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, which has acted as research council in the early 70s should revert back to that position.
“ For a nation to develop amidst myriads of problems, it must necessarily fund research. Health research has been shown to be one of the most contributors to human development all over the world. And has been seen as an economic prosperity source for many nations, in terms of research into new drugs, new vaccines, new modalities of treatment, and of cause new approaches,generally”.
He further justified the necessity of having a council for research, noting that it will ease the process of accessing fund for researchers in the university to execute their new ideas, fund research in the area of national priorities and politics, to specifically address myriads of health challenges, including poor health indices and improving the healthcare system.
The NIMR boss stressed the importance of a research council to national development, saying it is the norm in most advanced countries of the world, where they serve as funding agency for health research. Although he acknowledged the enormity of the responsibility before the government, but he maintained that the establishment of a research agency cannot be underestimated.
He said where there is no funding to prosecute research in this area, the nation won’t be able to thrive economically and scientifically in healthcare. “So a nation for national development necessarily must fund this act”.
Salako disclosed that the bill has passed the House to the Senate, while hoping and praying that it will be one very important milestone that this government can live by ensuring that council is established for research purposes.
“So, no matter how much of economic challenges, the government has in funding research, if we must see significant improvement in our health system, then a medical research council must be instituted”, he stated.
The DG, however expressed his heartfelt gratitude to all the experts and staff, that contributed to the success of his administration, including the 14th Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi; Former Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola; Prof. Oni Idigbe; Mrs Moji Makanjuola; and Professor Gureje, for their immense support to the NIMR Foundation.
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