বাংলায় পড়ুন
Legendary gynecologist Dr. Baidyanath Chakrabarty who is a pioneer of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) runs the Institute of Reproductive Medicine or IRM. He is donating his institute IRM to the Indian Council of Medical Research or ICMR. Chakrabarty received many lucrative offers over the years from several corporate organizations of both India and abroad. But he declined every offer as these organizations were only interested in running the IVF facility and not the research work; which is the key to the growth of reproductive medicine. Chakrabarty’s research work started in 1965 and the institute was set up by him in 1986. Finally, Chakrabarty was successful in finding an organization that will take over the entire facility along with the research work. As ICMR itself is a research organization Chakrabarty believes that they will use the facility at his institute in an appropriate manner. Back in 2010 when his wife fell ill; the thought of donating the institute crossed his mind as his daughter who lives abroad had no interest in running it. Chakrabarty was worried that all his hard work will be in vain, and hence approached ICMR proposing for a merger; which finally got approved and this takeover could be completed by this year in December. There is no government-run research facility on reproductive medicine and pointing that out in his proposal Chakrabarty said,
“I felt the region deserved a government facility it will ensure that research and fertility treatment continues outside the ambit of business.”
The head of the Reproductive Biology and Maternal Health and Child Health Division of ICMR said,
“ICMR’s association with Dr. Chakrabarty goes back to 1998 when he was chosen to chair the committee constituted to put together the National Guidelines for Accreditation, Supervision, and Regulation of ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology) clinics in India. Dr. Chakrabarty’s institute is unique because it not only provides IVF facilities but also has an animal house and does serious research, which is rare for a private facility.”
For the process of donation, the West Bengal requires a permission fee of Rs 85 lakh and the ICMR has already written to the state government about the importance of the institution and how valuable it is for people of this state. IRM will be an extension of the National Institute for Research in Reproductive Medicine, Mumbai which is under the ICMR. ICMR proposed to rename the institute after Dr.Chakrabarty but he refused it saying that he will be happy if ICMR carries on his research work. IRM is affiliated to Calcutta University and the West Bengal University of Health Sciences and currently, it has a fellowship program with six students.
