New Delhi, Nov 8 (IANS): The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has been tasked with developing affordable test strips for diabetes, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said Tuesday.

"Diabetes is highly prevalent in the country and the strip to measure sugar level is imported as it is patented abroad. It costs Rs.30. We have now assigned the task to ICMR to develop a strip for diabetes," Azad told reporters at a function to mark the centenary of ICMR.

The minister also released a commemorative postage stamp here Tuesday to celebrate 100 years of the premier health research body.

Azad has asked the ICMR to speed up its work on providing an economical solution for the diabetes screening strips to achieve the goal of screening at least 150 million people under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke.

With a population of nearly 50.8 million diabetics in the country, India tops the list of diabetics in the world.

The ICMR works through various stations across the country on issues such as virology, vector control, human reproduction, and matters of public health.

As many as 34 scientists were also awarded for their work in biomedical research Tuesday.