Himachal Pradesh News
Keylong to Host India’s First ICMR Centre for High Altitude Medicine, Foundation Stone to Be Laid on July 11
In a landmark step towards strengthening healthcare and scientific research in India’s Himalayan region, Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda will lay the foundation stone of the country’s first Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Centre for High Altitude Medicine and Public Health Research at Keylong in Lahaul-Spiti on July 11.
In a landmark step towards strengthening healthcare and scientific research in India’s Himalayan region, Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda will lay the foundation stone of the country’s first Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Centre for High Altitude Medicine and Public Health Research at Keylong in Lahaul-Spiti on July 11.
The upcoming centre, being established by the ICMR under the Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, will become India’s first dedicated institution focused exclusively on high-altitude medicine and public health research. The project will transform the existing ICMR field station in Keylong into a state-of-the-art multidisciplinary research hub designed to address the unique healthcare challenges faced by people living in mountainous and remote regions.
The institute is expected to play a vital role in studying the health effects of low oxygen levels, extreme weather conditions, difficult terrain, and climate change. Researchers will focus on areas such as high-altitude physiology, acclimatisation, mountain medicine, infectious and non-communicable diseases, maternal and child health, nutrition, mental health, environmental health, occupational health, and disaster medicine.
To improve healthcare access in remote Himalayan villages, the centre will also promote advanced technologies, including telemedicine, digital health platforms, drone-enabled medical logistics, and real-time public health surveillance. These initiatives are expected to enhance emergency response and healthcare delivery in difficult-to-reach areas.
Located in the strategically important border district of Lahaul-Spiti, the centre will facilitate long-term scientific studies on high-altitude and tribal populations. The research findings are expected to support national policies related to tribal healthcare, climate-resilient health systems, disaster preparedness, and digital healthcare, while also contributing to global research on high-altitude medicine.
The new research facility will work in collaboration with the Armed Forces Medical Services, DRDO, the Himachal Pradesh Government, and leading academic institutions, creating a strong network for medical innovation and scientific excellence.
The foundation stone ceremony will include a traditional Bhumi Pujan, plantation of native Himalayan saplings, a scientific exhibition, the launch of the centre’s official website and introductory film, and the release of a commemorative postal special cover.
The establishment of this pioneering research centre is expected to significantly strengthen India’s healthcare infrastructure in high-altitude regions while positioning Keylong as an important hub for advanced medical research in the Himalayas.
