Bangladesh Medical Research Council

Bangladesh Medical Research Council (BMRC) a focal organisation for health research established in 1972 by order of the President as an autonomous body under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. It has the objectives of identifying problems and issues relating to medical and health sciences and determining priority areas in research on the basis of healthcare needs, goals, policies and objectives. It has a General Body with 54 members representing postgraduate medical institutes, medical colleges, universities, learned societies, medical institutions, health-related organisations, and various divisions and departments of ministries dealing with medical education, services and research. The General Body elects an Executive Committee from among the members, headed by a Chairman. The main activities of the Council include: organisation and promotion of scientific research in various fields of health science, training of manpower and dissemination of research results.

The functions of BMRC are: to identify problems and issues relating to medical and healthcare needs; to organise and promote scientific research in various fields of medicine, public health, reproductive health and nutrition with specific references to primary healthcare needs; to initiate, assist, promote and coordinate scientific research in the field of health in medical institutions and to help such institutions in developing expertise and facilities for health research; to train manpower in health research through workshops/training programmes; to organise and disseminate research information through publications, research seminars, and orientation courses; and to arrange for the application and utilisation of the results of health research.

It publishes a quarterly bulletin; a journal called Research Information and Communication on Health (RICH) twice a year; a newsletter twice a year; and a journal titled Current Awareness Service (CAS) once a year. The BMRC Bulletin is regularly indexed in Index Medicus and Biological Abstract. It publishes a Bibliography of Research Results. In recognition of its achievements in promotion of research activities specially in field/community based studies, BMRC has been awarded the prestigious WHO 50th Anniversary Primary Healthcare Development Award in 1998. The headquarters of the council is located at Mohakhali, Dhaka. [Harun-Ar-Rashid]