Renowned pharmacologist Prof Ranjit Roy Chaudhury passes away in Chennai

Professor Chaudhury was also an academician, distinguished medical research specialist and health planner for the country.

Zee Media Bureau

Chennai: Professor Ranjit Roy Chaudhury, a renowned Indian clinical pharmacologist, had passed away early Tuesday morning, October 27, in Chennai.

He was also an academician, distinguished medical research specialist and health planner for the country.

He contributed significantly as Head of the National Committee set up by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for formulating policies and guidelines on drugs and clinical trials in India.

Under his guidance, the county saw the introduction of new regulations and policies built on the principles of scientific research and a framework based on quality, ethics and patient safety.

He also served as Dean at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh and held senior positions in the World Health Organization.

A former member of the Board of Governors of the Medical Council of India, he was responsible for establishing the DM Course in Clinical Pharmacology at Chandigarh.

He was also the Chairman of the joint program of World Health Organization and Government of India on Rational Use of Drugs in India.

Professor Chaudhury had 275 publications in national and international journals, written 25 text books on medical education and a book on Ayurveda, titled The Healing Powers of Herbs.

A recipient of Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award and Dr. B. C. Roy Award, Dr Chaudhury was awarded the fourth highest civilian award of the Padma Shri Padma by the Government of India in 1998.

Chaudhury, the first Indian doctor to receive a Rhodes Scholarship, was a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and a recipient of the degree of Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) from the Chulalongkorn University.

His death came as a big blow to clinical research and the healthcare industry in India.