ICMR's chief epidemiologist retires, sources say will continue to advise govt in Covid-19 policy decisions

Mumbai: Raman Gangakhedkar, the Chief Epidemiologist and Head of Communicable diseases at the Indian Council Of Medical Research (ICMR) retired today after almost 30 years in service from the elite Indian research institute. Gangakhedkar, 61, is also one of the key members of India’s Covid-19 epidemic management.

“We know each other since 1991 when. He is erudite, as a professional he is knowledgeable and a wonderful colleague to work with”, said DCS Reddy one of the members of ICMR’s Research task Force.

A public health expert in communicable disease, Gangakhedkar was instrumental in the prevention and control measures of the HIV epidemic two decades ago.

A pediatrician by training he started his career with National Institute of Nutrition and was one of the key founding members of National AIDS Research Institute (NARI) that was established in 1992.

He received the Padmashri award in 2020 in the Science and Engineering category. Samiran Panda who is the current head of NARI is expected to take charge in his place, people aware of the development told ET.

Gangakhedkar is retiring at a time when India is seeing a daily increase in Covid-19 cases. However officials aware of the development told ET he might be given the C. G. Pandit National Chairs of ICMR where he would continue to lead the policy issues related to Covid-19.