At the time of independence no institution with the capacity to organize and undertake health research at the national level fell to the share of Pakistan. The need for such an organization must have been felt from the start since as early as the mid fifties, a Medical Research Fund was established for the purpose. This evolved into the Pakistan Medical Research Council (PMRC), which was created under a resolution in 1962 on the recommendation of the Medical Reforms Commission as an autonomous organization attached to the Federal Ministry of Health (MoH). The Council along with other R&D organizations was transferred to the Ministry of Science and Technology in 1972. In 1997 the Council was transferred back to the Ministry of Health.

ORGANIZATION AND STRUCTURE

All powers of the Council are vested in the Board of Governors (BoG). These include both administrative and financial powers. Federal Minister for Health is the Chairman of the Bog Besides, Federal Secretary Health and all Provincial Health Secretaries including Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Director General Health are the members. The members of the BoG serve in their ex-officio capacity. Heads of most public sector organizations with direct or indirect connection to the Health Sector are represented on the PMRC BoG. The Board is presided over by the Minister for Health. The BoG exercises its authority through an Executive Committee, and Executive Director. A Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and a number of expert panels, the members of which are selected from among the leading medical researchers and academicians of the country, provide technical guidance and advice to the Council.

STRATEGY

To achieve its functions the main strategy adopted by the Council is the development of collaboration with health academic institutions. Research Centres have been established in both the undergraduate and postgraduate medical institutions of the country. The underlying assumption is that the medical academic institutions have the human resource for health research and that PMRC, with its role as a facilitator of research, can supplement, assist and facilitate their research effort by providing additional facilities for research. Currently 12 PMRC Research Centres are functioning. These centres provide facilities to researchers at all stages of their work. This includes literature research, project proposal development, secretarial assistance, laboratory facilities, technical facilities etc. Help is also given in report writing and publication and dissemination of the results of the research.

MANAGEMENT:

Dr. Huma Qureshi Profile

Executive Director

MBBS, MD.

Tel: 051-9217146

hqpmrc@fascom.com

Dr. Jahangir A. Khan

Chief Research Officer

M.Sc., Ph.D (Biochemistry)

Tel: 051-9205480

khan_ja@hotmail.com

Dr. Mubashir A. Khan ( on Leave )