Few to save us from epidemics

Even as newer forms of viruses keep emerging due to rapid environmental change, India, which boasts of 289 medical colleges and 31,698 medical students graduating every year, there remains an acute crunch of skilled epidemiologists (who study the spread of diseases) and clinical virologists (who study viruses). Over the years, quick-fix methods applied by the government have managed to produce only a handful of experts who have the task of surveying and controlling epidemics across the length and breadth of the country.

For instance, while the Maharashtra government runs 40 medical colleges, not one produces an epidemiologist. The National Institute of Virology at Pune, which offers a diploma and a degree course in virology, is run by the Central government. “There is indeed a requirement for more clinical virologists who can understand a disease in totality and study how a virus can cause a disease,” said Dr Rajendra Deolankar, a scientist at the Pune institute.

According to an official from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi, India needs at least 1,000 epidemiologists at any given point of time. “Currently, we do not have even 5% of that number,” said the official, who requested anonymity, “The shortage is threatening but IMCR has initiated measures to train and produce more skilled epidemiologists.”

An epidemiologist is required to investigate an outbreak, conduct vaccine trials, and evaluate the efficacy of vaccines developed. “Due to the crunch, there are times when researchers are sent to outbreak epicentres instead of epidemiologists as happened in Modasa,” said the official. In February last, about 40 people died due to an outbreak of Hepatitis-B at Modasa in Gujarat.

The National Institute of Epidemiology at Chennai trains medical graduates to be epidemiologists. The centre, under the ICMR, has about 50-odd students passing out every year. In order to meet the current shortage, the ICMR has entered into foreign collaborations. Experts also feel that the government deserves to be blamed for not developing its premier research institutes as training grounds.

For instance, the Haffkine Research Institute at Parel, Mumbai, once considered a haven for virus isolation and vaccine development, today lies in a shambles.

“Following the bifurcation of the bio-pharma and research institutes in 1975, not much of research and development has taken place,” said Dr Abhay Chaudhary, director, Haffkine Institute for Training, Research and Testing, “We urgently need public health specialists and the government has to think of ways for that,” he added. Incidentally, Haffkine has several vacant posts for virologists.

Microbiologists  can help out

Curriculum change is another way in which the current epidemiologist shortage can be tackled. “The current microbiology courses teach very little about viruses,” said Dr Kanjaksha Ghosh, director of the National Institute of Immunohaematology, Mumbai. A revised curriculum with a greater emphasis on the study of viruses will help meet the shortage of virologists in the country.