Former WHO Chief Scientist Soumya Swaminathan Appointed As Principal Advisor For TB Programme (image-twitter/UpscforAll)
Former chief scientist of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Soumya Swaminathan is named as the principal advisor for its National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme by the Union government.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said in a statement that Prof. Swaminathan will provide technical advice on the overall strategy to achieve program goals, suggest policy directions and necessary course correction for optimal.
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She has been appointed on a pro bono basis. As the principal advisor of the programme, she will assist in the formation of expert groups with top talent globally and also will support the health ministry, state officials and development partners in assessing the impact of the programme.
Swaminathan has also served as the director general of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) during 2015-2017.
At WHO, she led the science division with a focus on research, quality assurance of norms and standards and digital health. She played a key role during the pandemic in coordinating scientific efforts at the WHO, as well as in setting up Covax, with a focus on equitable vaccine distribution to LMICs.
Swaminathan is a pediatrician and a globally recognized researcher on tuberculosis and HIV. She has a vast experience of over 30 years in clinical care and research, and has worked throughout her career to translate research into impactful programmes.
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Swaminathan received academic training in India, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. She has published more than 450 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters. She is a Fellow of the US National Academy of Medicine, the Academy of Medical Sciences of the UK, and a Fellow of all the science academies in India.
