Express Healthcare (Vol. 16, No. 7) August 2023

AUGUST2023,`50

INTERVIEWS

KN Sudhir

Business Head-Computed Tomography, Siemens Healthineers, Zone India

CONTENTS

Chairman of the Board

ViveckGoenka

Sr.Vice President-BPD

Neil Viegas

Vice President-BPD

Harit Mohanty

Editor

Viveka Roychowdhury*

Editorial Team

Lakshmipriya Nair

Kalyani Sharma

DESIGN

Art Director

Pravin Temble

Senior Designer

Rekha Bisht

Senior Artist

Rakesh Sharma

Marketing Team

Rajesh Bhatkal

Ashish Rampure

Debnarayan Dutta

Production Co-ordinator

DhananjayNidre

Scheduling & Coordination

Pushkar Waralikar CIRCULATION

Mohan Varadkar

MEDTECH

Pg

HEALTHCARE TRENDS

13 TAKING INDIAN HEALTHCARE GLOBAL: REDEFINING THE HEALTHCARE PARADIGM IN UNDERDEVELOPED COUNTRIES

P20: INTERVIEW KN SUDHIR Business Head-Computed Tomography, Siemens Healthineers, Zone India

23 DATA-DRIVEN HEALTHCARE IS HERE: ARE YOU READY?

HR

24 INCREASING HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE GAP AND HOWITCAN BE BRIDGED

START-UPS

Dr AkshayParmar

Dr Anurag Shah

Revolutionising cancer care with precision radiation therapy

Will importing refurbished medical devices stifle local medtech?

The latest flare up between domestic and global medical technology companies is a recent office memo to import certain categories of high end pre-owned/ refurbished non-ICU medical equipment.

In its OM dated June 19, 2023, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has permitted the import of specific pre-owned high value and high medical devices. The OM lists 50 such devices like MRIs, CT scans, non-ICU X-rays, ultrasounds, C arms, etc.

Explaining the rationale for allowing the import and use of pre-owned/refurbished non-ICU medical equipment, a note from FICCI, submitted by FICCI at the 72nd meeting of the ministry's technical review committee on May 30, 2022, says that refurbished equipment costs approximately 20-25 per cent less than new equipment based on configuration, technology, and features.

The note also lays out the process to ensure that the refurbished equipment is evaluated to ensure that all quality standards are assured, with the required factory checks by CDSCO and certifications from AERB.

However, Rajiv Nath, Forum Coordinator, Association of Indian Medical Device Industry (AiMeD) says the decision is in contravention to India’s recently launched National Medical Device Policy 2023 that seeks to make our country not only Atma Nirbhar (self sufficient) in medical devices but also a global leader.

At the heart of it, this is a turf war. Domestic medtech companies see refurbished equipment as a threat, and are concerned that they will take longer to get the RoI on their investments in manufacturing sites. Global medtech companies have realised that they need to lower the price points as a market entry and expansion strategy.

Sure there are very valid environmental concerns. Suresh Vazirani, Chairman, Transasia Bio-Medicals warns that this policy will allow Western countries to ship all old equipment to India and thereby prevent their own countries from getting environmentally polluted with discarded pollutants in medical equipment.

And on the face of it, the decision seems contrary to the government’s Make in India mantra, championing local entrepreneurs. Gaurav Agarwal, Managing Director, Innovation Imaging Technologies says his company has invested Rs 35 crore to manufacture cathlabs with a capacity of 500 units. He cautions that by importing refurbished equipment, we miss the opportunity to nurture a robust ecosystem of innovation, research, and development in the medical technology sector.

The counter argument from global medtech companies, represented by the Medical Technology Association of India (MTaI), is that the import of preowned medical equipment can increase the affordability and accessibility of these capital-intensive equipment for the Indian patient, especially in tier 2 & 3 cities.

Can the two sides collaborate harmoniously?

How long will it take for indigenous medtech Hondas and Toyotas to rise from this ecosystem?

The MTaI note makes an important point that major countries like the US, European nations, Japan, United Kingdom, Canada, South Korea, New Zealand and Australia also allow the import and sale of pre-owned medical equipment which complies with their regulations.

Pavan Choudary, Chairman, MTaI, clarifies the difference between import substitution and import replacement. According to him, import substitution is usually government backed, sponsored through the raising of tariffs and non-tariff barriers and assisted with some subsidies/incentives. He cautions that this usually has counter effects on competitiveness and efficiency.

Choudary explains import replacement citing how bicycle repair shops in Japan first started repairing imported bicycles, graduated to making some spare parts, then started making those bicycles themselves. Eventually, this cluster of industry provided the ecosystem for giants like Honda and Toyota to rise. His point is that when import replacement happens, jobs boom in the cities and the village economies also get catalysed through demand for new raw materials.

Choudary summarises that the use of pre-owned medical equipment fulfills a patient's need, a provider's need, and a government need (of extending quality healthcare to tier 2 and tier 3 cities) and provides a skilling opportunity.

Far from a dissonance between past and present mantras, Choudary posits that the Prime Minister, the Health Minister, the Minister of Environment and Forest and their colleagues are trying to craft a medtech policy that harnesses both the domestic and international currents to optimally forge the path ahead. He reasons that this ambition is logical as medtech is a capital intensive and technology intensive sector.

How will this play out in India’s medtech sector? Can the two sides collaborate harmoniously? How long will it take for indigenous medtech Hondas and Toyotas to rise from this ecosystem?

While it remains to be seen if the recent memo on the import of refurbished medtech will stifle or catalyse the evolution of the industry, experts point out that the concept of refurbished medtech is not new to India or the world. What worries today’s medtech entrepreneurs is that the battle for market share and mind share, not just in India but in export markets, just got tougher. While the USP for a Made In India medtech brand was the price, refurbished equipment takes that away. Only Made In India medtech brands representing innovation and ingenuity, rather than only price, will survive and thrive.

VIVEKA ROYCHOWDHURY, Editor viveka.r@expressindia.com viveka.roy3@gmail.com

HEALTHCARE TRENDS

Taking Indian healthcare global: Redefining the healthcare paradigm in underdeveloped countries

Dr Akshay Parmar,Founder & Managing Director and Dr Anurag Shah,Founder & Executive Director,Unihealth Consultancy Limited,highlight how replicating the Indian healthcare model and inter-linking of different healthcare verticals have redefined the healthcare paradigm and helped develop health infrastructure in countries where UniHealth has established its presence

Over the last 2 decades, the Indian healthcare Industry has witnessed tectonic shifts across all verticals of the sector and achieved global repute as a reliable partner, be it in provision of healthcare services at its technologically advanced hospitals or the supply of high quality and costeffective healthcare products manufactured in factories across the country. India has been the preferred choice for medical tourists from countries world over since the beginning of the century. The manufacturing and global supply of the COVID-19 vaccines by Indian companies further reaffirmed the country’s position as a trusted partner to be at the forefront of the industry globally. The role of private Indian companies in replicating the Indian model to help develop the healthcare infrastructure in underdeveloped countries and make services accessible to the under-served populations can be contributory in redefining the global world order and strengthen India’s position as a nation to reckon with in the coming decades.

Founded in 2010, Unihealth Consultancy Limited has been at the forefront of globalising the Indian healthcare model. Backed by the vision to provide ‘Healthcare for All’, the Company, in its initial days, redefined the medical tourism industry by challenging status quo and forging alliances on innovative models with an aim to streamline processes for both, patients and providers.

“Facilitating services for medical tourists was a competitive space by 2012. For us at UniHealth, the aim was to make these services accessible

ter having travelled to more than 25 countries on the African continent and closely studying their healthcare requirements, we resolved to take an important step forward in redefining UniHealth’s business model and put in place ‘Vision 2025’ for the company, a decision that gave birth to Unihealth Medical Centres and UMC Hospitals, and have eventually contributed in reshaping health infrastructure in Uganda, Nigeria and Tanzania.”

Starting 2015, UniHealth has established a network of hospitals and medical centres

Starting 2015,UniHealth has established a network of hospitals and medical centres in Uganda, Nigeria and Tanzania.The Group,under its flagship ‘UMC Hospitals’brand,operates 200 tertiary care beds and 3 medical centres in these countries and provides medical services to 100,000+ patients annually

to a larger population in a costeffective manner. With this vision, in early 2013, we entered into a unique collaboration with Ethiopian Air, to launch the ‘UniHealth – Ethiopian Air Medical Travel Program’, an initiative that allowed UniHealth to expand its footprint across the African continent and provide patients traveling to India a single-point access for the entire range of services required to plan their treatment in addition to allowing them avail 25 per cent discount on their travel tickets”, highlights Dr Parmar.

Dr Shah adds, “By 2015, af-

in Uganda, Nigeria and Tanzania. The Group, under its flagship ‘UMC Hospitals’ brand, operates 200 tertiary care beds and 3 medical centres in these countries and provides medical services to 100,000+ patients annually.

“We have designed our facilities in line with Indian hospitals and installed equipment sourced from leading Indian manufacturers, replicating the Indian model and ensuring that the required capex and recurring operational costs are minimised. This ensured the profitability of our units and gave us the opportunity to scale up

“We have developed an inhouse team specialising in all segments of a project cycle, from planners and architects to designers and engineers, all having relevant experience of working on healthcare projects. The idea is to integrate all services to provide comprehensive solutions and ensure that designs take into consideration important aspects related to the functionality and operative challenges witnessed in such projects. This is an important factor for our clients in underdeveloped countries where accessibility to consultants having the desired skillsets is both, limited and expensive,” outlines Dr Parmar.

This vertical of the company is presently working on projects with a cumulative bed capacity of more than 1,000 beds across Asia and Africa.

services by continually adding newer specialties. UMC Victoria Hospital, our flagship facility in Uganda, is the country’s only hospital to have modular OTs and centralised medical gas systems. The facility has been accredited by United Nations to provide services to the beneficiaries of multiple UN Agencies in the region”, mentions Dr Shah.

In 2019, UniHealth ventured into healthcare consultancy services, an important vertical focussed on assisting upcoming healthcare projects with turn-key solutions to plan, design, equip and commission their facilities.

Taking a step further in the inter-linking of different verticals of the industry, in 2020, UniHealth aggressively expanded its export and distribution division. It is the authorised distributor in multiple African countries for a wide range of pharma and medical consumables manufactured by leading Indian companies.

“Inter-linking of various verticals of the industry, from consultancy services and distribution to operations and management, have allowed us to redefine the industry in countries like Uganda, Nigeria and Tanzania and aid in the development of their healthcare infrastructure, making specialised services accessible to the underserved populations. By 2025, we aim to have an operational capacity of 1,000 beds under UMC Hospitals”, emphasises Dr Parmar.

Dr AkshayParmarDr Anurag Shah

Revolutionising cancer care with precision radiation therapy

Overcoming challenges and promoting adoption of precision radiation therapy is crucial to fully harness its potential in India

ByKalyani Sharma

FICCI and EY recent report mentions that realcancerincidence level in India is estimated to be 1.5 to three times higher than reported incidence as 51 per cent patients take more than a week to conclude diagnosis while 46 per cent take second opinion due to lack of confidence in initial diagnosis and suggested treatment. The reported cancer incidence inIndiathis year is estimated to be 19 to 20 lakh, whereas real incidence is 1.5 to 3 times higher than the reported cases, the study revealed.

While diagnosing it on time is important, enhancing and advancing the treatment process is also the need of the hour. Techniques like precision radiation therapy is emerging as a rev olutionary approach to cancer treatment. Offering newfound hope and imp roved outcomes, this technology has the potential to redefine cancer care in the country.

Dr Sumit Basu, Consultant-Radiation Oncology, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital explains that, “Cancer continues to be a major public health concern worldwide, and India is no exception. As the most populous country in the world, the burden of cancer is significant in India. However, re cent advancements in precision radiation therapy have brought about a transformative impact on cancer treatment in the country. Precision radiation therapy, also known as radiation oncology, is an advanced technique that targets cancer cells with remarkable accuracy while sparing healthy tissues.”

The need for precision radiation therapy in India arises from the desire to improve cancer treatment outcomes, minimise side effects, and optimise healthcare resources.

Emphasising on the need for precision therapy, Dr Rishabh Kumar, Consultant, Department of Radiation

Recent advancements in precision radiation therapy have brought about a transformative impact on cancer treatment in the country

Dr Sumit Basu Consultant-Radiation Oncology,

In the ever-evolving world of medical science,precision radiation therapy has emerged as a beacon of hope for cancer patients.Its precision-guided approach is akin to a smart bomb that zeroes in on the tumour,leaving the surrounding healthy tissues unscathed

Dr Rishabh Kumar Consultant, Department of Radiation Oncology, Amrita Hospital

By combining clinical expertise, scientific research,and technological advancements,the field can continually evolve and provide the best possible care for cancer patients in India

Dr Vikas Kothawade HoD-Radiation Oncology,Jupiter Hospital

Collaboration among radiation oncologists,researchers,and technology developers is of utmost importance in advancing precision radiation therapy solutions

Dr Vikash Kumar Associate Director-Radiation Oncology, Asian Hospital

Oncology, Amrita Hospital said, “In the ever-evolving world of medical science, precision radiation therapy has emerged as a beacon of hope for cancer patients. Its precision-guided approach is akin to a smart bomb that zeroes in on the tumour, leaving the surrounding healthy tissues unscathed.”

“Consider the precision and adaptation needed to hit a moving target – similar are the challenges faced in targeting a tumour that could change size and position within our bodies. Precision radiation therapy, with its accuracy in delivery and adaptive strategies, individualises each treatment plan, optimising the radiation dose and often reducing overall treatment time. The result? More effective treatment and an improved patient experience”, he added.

Talking about how precision radiation therapy solutions in India are transforming cancer treatment, Dr Vikas Kothawade, HoD-Radiation Oncology, Jupiter Hospital said, “Cancer treatment in India has witnessed significant advancements with the transformative impact of precision radiation therapy solutions. This cutting-edge approach, coupled with personalised treatment approaches, is revolutionising the field of radiation therapy, leading to imp roved outcomes and enhanced patient experiences.”

Advanced technologies in precision radiation therapy

There are significant advancements with transformative impact of precision radiation therapy solutions on cancer treatment in India.

Overall, while traditional radiation therapy remains an essential treatment modality in India, the adoption of precision radiation therapy is growing steadily. Precision radiation therapy offers significant advantages in terms of treatment accuracy,

Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital

reduced side effects, and improved outcomes, making it a valuable addition to cancer treatment options in the country. However, the choice of treatment modality ultimately depends on factors like tumor type, stage, location, patient health status, and the availability of advanced technologies at the treatment facility.

Dr Vikash Kumar, Associate Director-Radiation Oncology, Asian Hospital stresses that traditional radiation therapy techniques deliver radiation to the tumour and surrounding healthy tissues, leading to potential side effects and damage to healthy cells. He said, “The need for precision radiation therapy arises from the complexity and heterogeneity of cancer tumours. Precision radiation therapy aims to overcome these challenges by precisely targeting cancer cells while minimising damage to the surrounding tissues. This approach improves treatment efficacy and reduces treatment-related complications, ultimately enhancing patient outcomes.

Dr Kothawade mentions, “Traditional radiation therapy techniques often had limitations in accurately delivering radiation to the tumor site, leading to unnecessary exposure of healthy tissues and underdosing of tumour tissue. Advanced technologies have able to locate the tumour and healthy tissues to overcome the problem with conventional techniques.”

Some of the key advanced technologies in precision radiation therapy include Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), ImageGuided Radiation Therapy (IGRT), Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT), Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT), Proton Therapy and Magnetic Resonance-guided Radiation Therapy (MRgRT) etc. Experts throws light on some

Dr Ajay Kolse

By embracing cutting-edge technologies and promoting ongoing training & education,we can empower healthcare providers to deliver transformative cancer care that achieves better treatment outcomes for every patient served

Manikandan Bala Managing Director, India and Senior Vice President, Intercontinental,Elekta

India is a vast country with heterogenous distribution of advanced medical services across its landscape. Delivering an affordable care is one of the greatest challenges in India

Dr Tejinder Kataria Chairperson, Radiation Oncology, Cancer Institute,Medanta

The high cost associated with these technologies creates financial barriers for both healthcare institutions and patients

Dr Srinivas Chilukuri Senior Consultant- Radiation Oncology, Apollo Proton Cancer Centre

of the advanced technologies

Dr Ajay Kolse, Sr. ConsultantRadiationoncologist, Holy Family Hospital believes that the concept of precision radiation oncology involves much more than mastery of technology. Mentioning about some of the technologies, he said, “After the era of cobalt 60, LINACs have taken over the most industrialised countries. LINACs delivered 3D CRT, IMRT, IGRT, VMAT/ RapidArc techniques. They utilised real time in room imaging improved accuracy. IMRT & IGRT has shown the way to the concept of focal localised therapy. For small target volume stereotactic radiation therapy applies a large number of radiation fields or arcs to produce a steep dose fall off outside the target volume. This often enables to deliver very high, ablative doses in one to five treatments.”

Dr Basu also explains, “IGRT combines advanced imaging techniques, such as MRI, CT scans, and PET scans, with radiation therapy. This real-time imaging allows oncologists to track tumor movements, enabling precise adjustments to the radiation beams during treatment. IMRT uses computer-controlled linear accelerators to deliver varying radiation doses to different areas of the tumor. This technique optimises dose distribution, conforming to the tumor's shape, while sparing healthy tissues. SBRT and and Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) deliver high doses of radiation to small, well-defined tumors with extreme precision. These techniques are particularly effective for cancers in the brain, lung, liver, and spine.”

Throwing light on particle therapy, Dr Kolse said, “Particle therapy can deposit energy at or around the target with no exit dose beyond the target, a phenomenon known as “Bragg peak”. The main benefit of particle theory is that normal tissues are significantly less exposed

The concept of precision radiation oncology involves much more than mastery of technology

Sr.Consultant Radiation oncologist, Holy Family Hospital

compared with photon therapy or curative radiation dose can be delivered to the tumour closed to critical structure.”

Integration of personalised approaches within precision radiation therapy

Another important aspect that can enhance the overall outcome of precision radiation therapy is via integration of personalised approaches within the technique. It empowers the oncologist with tailored treatment plans which is unique to each patient for maximum effect.

Manikandan Bala, Managing Director, India and Senior Vice President, Intercontinental, Elekta shares “India is in the midst of a transformation in cancer treatment. The integration of cutting-edge technologies and personalised treatment approaches is revolutionising the field of radiation oncology. This is leading to improved treatment outcomes and an enhanced patient care experience.”

Dr Tejinder Kataria, Chairperson, Radiation Oncology, Cancer Institute, Medanta said, “Treatment tailored to an individual patient with due protection of functional and structural integrity of organs and tissues around the cancer is defined as a personalised treatment approach.”

Dr Kumar highlights, “In an era of personalised medicine, radiation therapy isn’t far behind. Armed with genomic profiling, doctors can tweak treatments to match individual patient profiles. Techniques such as adaptive radiation therapy and dose painting ensure treatments can be modified to remain effective even as a patient's tumour or health status changes.”

Emerging trends and future innovations in precision radiation therapy

Experts believes that emerg-

ing technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML) and FLASH radiotherapy etc can pave way for new era in cancer treatment.

The future of precision radiation therapy looks radiant with possibilities, says Dr Kumar. He also mentions that with advancements in AI and machine learning, imaging technologies, and emerging techniques like FLASH radiotherapy, biologically guided radiation therapy, and nanotechnology, we are on the cusp of a new era in cancer treatment.

Dr Srinivas Chilukuri, Senior Consultant- Radiation Oncology, Apollo Proton Cancer Centre explaining about another technology added, “Hypofractionation refers to delivering higher doses of radiation over a shorter period, reducing the overall treatment time. This approach is possible due to improved targeting accuracy and the ability to spare healthy tissue, leading to more convenient treatment schedules for patients.”

Pioneering a path to progress: Overcoming challenges and driving adoption

The journey towards widespread adoption of precision radiation therapy in India is not without its challenges. Overcoming challenges and promoting adoption of precision radiation therapy is crucial to fully harness its potential in India.

Raising awareness, collaborative approach within the framework, skill development, enhancing the accessibility and affordability are some of the hurdles that must be overcome that can drive the successful integration of precision radiation therapy into mainstream cancer treatment protocols.

◆ Awareness and education : Bridging the knowledge gap among medical professionals and patients about

the benefits of this technique and educating them about the misconceptions via targeted educational programs, workshops, and conferences can be done.

On this, Bala shares, “By embracing cutting-edge technologies and promoting ongoing training & education, we can empower healthcare providers to deliver transformative cancer care that achieves better treatment outcomes for every patient served.”

Emphasising on the shortage of skilled professionals, Dr Chilukuri said, “There is a shortage of skilled healthcare professionals (oncologists, physicists and therapists) trained in precision radiotherapy techniques, leading to a lack of expertise in the field. Limited awareness and understanding among healthcare providers and the general public about the benefits and availability of precision radiotherapy further hinder its adoption. Addressing these challenges requires investments in infrastructure, training programs, and public awareness campaigns to promote the widespread adoption of precision radiotherapy in India.”

◆ Accessibility and affordability : The high initial costs associated with state-of-theart equipment and infrastructure pose a significant challenge to its widespread adoption, particularly in smaller medical facilities is also one of the challenges accompanied by its accessibility to a broader spectrum of patients and healthcare providers.

On this Dr Kataria mentions, “India is a vast country with heterogenous distribution of advanced medical services across its landscape. Delivering an affordable care is one of the greatest challenges in India. Different cancer types, socio-economic diversity, inequitable access to care,

myths with respect to cancer treatment, attitude of the general populace along with infrastructure limitations, complicate timely and effective cancer treatment in our country.”

Dr Chilukuri opines, “Limited access to advanced imaging technologies and high-resolution equipment in many healthcare facilities hinders accurate treatment planning and delivery. The high cost associated with these technologies creates financial barriers for both healthcare institutions and patients. The government charges a large customs duty on most of the equipment which is imported from other countries. We are hoping with the introduction of homegrown linear accelerator technology, the demand for high-precision radiation therapy equipment will improve access to this technology in India.”

Role of collaborative approach

Establishing partnerships between healthcare institutions and technology providers can facilitate knowledge sharing, research collaboration, and joint development of best practices. Such collaborations will strengthen India's position as a frontrunner in precision radiation therapy and expedite its integration into standard cancer care practices.

Dr Vikas Kumar also opines, “Collaboration among radiation oncologists, researchers, and technology developers is of utmost importance in advancing precision radiation therapy solutions. By working together, they can drive research, develop innova tive technologies, and establish best practices. Collaboration fosters knowledge exchange, accelerates technological advancements, and ensures that patients benefit from the latest developments in precision radiation therapy.”

Dr Kothawade believes that collaboration among radiation oncologists, researchers, and technology developers is crucial in advancing precision radiation therapy solutions. He said, “By combining clinical expertise, scientific research, and technological advancements, the field can continually evolve and provide the best possible care for cancer patients in India.”

Stressing on increasing the effectiveness of these innovations with collaborative effort, Dr Kumar said, “Imagine a virtuoso orchestra - the radiation oncologists, researchers, and technology developers are the instrumentalists. Each plays a unique and critical part, and together, they create a harmonious symphony that drives innovation and improves patient outcomes. The orchestra extends to include other healthcare professionals, patients, regulators, and policymakers, creating a holistic melody of advanced radiation therapy solutions in India.”

“As the precision radiation therapy symphony plays on, it echoes the promise of revolutionising cancer treatment in India, turning the tide in the battle against this formidable disease. Now, that's a tune we can all look forward to”, he added.

Wayforward

By addressing the current challenges and implementing the collaborative approach, India can enhance the adoption of precision radiation therapy, ultimately leading to improved cancer treatment outcomes and a higher quality of life for cancer patients across the country. As technology continues to advance and become more accessible, precision radiation therapy is likely to play an increasingly pivotal role in the fight against cancer in India.

Kalyani.sharma@expressindia.com journokalyani@gmail.com

RADIOLOGY

Our goal is to collaborate with healthcare providers supporting growth of cancer care infrastructure in India

Elekta,leader in precision radiation therapy recently launched first Elekta Unity MR-Linac system in India on the 20th of June at Yashoda Hospital in Hyderabad.In an interaction with Kalyani Sharma,Manikandan Bala ,Managing Director,India & Senior Vice President, Intercontinental,Elekta talks about this new technology and company’s future plans for the Indian market

Please elaborate on the recently unveiled Elekta Unity MR-Linac, shedding light on its key features, accessibility, and affordability

The newly launched Elekta Unity MR-Linac, is a path breaking advancement in the field of radiotherapy. It integrates a high-field 1.5T MRI system with an advanced linear accelerator, providing diagnostic quality visibility while radiating a tumour with precision. It enables medical professionals to provide tailored treatments based on individualised factors, potentially resulting in improved clinical outcomes. Unity's targeted radiation dose delivery reduces the need for repositioning and rescanning, streamlining the treatment process and potentially improving treatment outcomes.

We believe that Unity creates immense value for clinicians and patients alike. In terms of accessibility, we believe that all eligible patients should have access to Elekta Unity MR-Linac treatments.

How many countries are currently using this technology and how do you see its scalability in the Indian market in the future?

Elekta Unity MR-Linac technology is making significant strides globally, with numerous countries embracing its potential. The

recent launch of India's first Unity MR-Linac in Hyderabad highlights the growing interest and positive reception from healthcare providers worldwide.

Currently, there are a total of 75 units installed/under installation in 27 countries and 53 are already in clinical use in 22 countries.

Scalability of Unity in the Indian market involves multifaceted considerations. It encompasses not only the availability of the technology but also the essential infrastructure, skilled healthcare professionals and robust ecosystems.

Integrating such advanced technology into existing healthcare facilities necessitates meticulous planning and investments.

Elekta recognises the criticality of addressing these factors to ensure the

successful adoption and scalability of Unity in India. We actively engage with healthcare stakeholders, including government bodies, hospitals, and clinicians, to comprehend the unique challenges and collaborate on strategies that enhance cancer care delivery.

Our goal is to closely collaborate with healthcare providers and decisionmakers, supporting the growth of cancer care infrastructure in India. Leveraging our expertise and fostering collaborations, we aim to bolster capabilities and improve access to cancer treatment, ultimately benefiting patients across the country.

Which global technologies do you believe should be integrated into the Indian healthcare system to

enhance cancer care?

Elekta Unity MR-Linac, without a doubt, is one of the key global technologies that should be integrated into the Indian healthcare system to enhance cancer care. This would empower clinicians with valuable insights, enabling them to make better informed decisions throughout the treatment process. By implementing Unity, India can advance its capabilities in cancer care, providing patients with access to state-of-the-art treatments and positioning the country at the forefront of innovative healthcare solutions. In conclusion, the adoption of global technologies, with Unity at the forefront, is essential for the Indian healthcare system to deliver better cancer care. Apart from this we are very vocal about integrating Oncology Informatics into the larger ecosystem. It will help with proper capture of incidence, treatment outcomes and guide policy makers in terms of investments across different parts of the country - depending on the type of cancer.

What are your future strategies for the Indian market?

Elekta has a strong market presence in India and sees significant growth potential in the country's healthcare sector, given its large

population and rising cancer incidence rates. With India's large population and increasing incidence of cancer, we aim to deepen our presence by expanding reach to more tier-2 and tier-3 cities and towns.

As part of our commitment to the Indian market, we have plans to expand the presence of radiation therapy systems across the country. Our goal is to ensure that every state in India has access to the best cancer care. We believe that by increasing the availability of radiation therapy systems, we can positively impact cancer care outcomes and reach a larger population in need. To achieve this, we are actively working on partnerships and collaborations with healthcare institutions, government bodies, and industry stakeholders. By fostering these relationships, we aim to create a robust network that will support the widespread adoption of radiation therapy in every district of India.

By embracing contemporary technology and working together towards its widespread implementation, we can transform the landscape of cancer care in India and bring hope to countless lives affected by this disease.

Kalyani.sharma@expressindia.com journokalyani@gmail.com

MEDTECH

To staycompetitive in the CTmarket, companies need to prioritise innovation

In conversation with Kalyani Sharma,KN Sudhir ,Business Head-Computed Tomography, Siemens Healthineers,Zone India,expounds on the promising prospects of Computed Tomography (CT) in the healthcare domain.He emphasises on the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms within CTsystems

How do you envision the future of CT technology in the healthcare industry, and what strategies do you believe can be employed to realise this vision?

CT technology will continue to play a crucial role in the future, of the healthcare industry, enabling faster and more accurate diagnoses, improved treatment planning, and enhanced patient care. CT scanners will become more advanced, offering higher resolution images, reducing radiation dose, and improving patient experience. The integration of AI algorithms into CT systems will further enhance diagnostic capabilities and assist radiologists in interpreting and analysing images.

To achieve this vision, several key factors need to be considered. Continued investment in research and development is essential to drive innovation in CT technology. This includes advancements in hardware, such as detector technology and scanner design, as well as software improvements to enhance image reconstruction algorithms and AI integration.

Additionally, collaboration between industry stakeholders, including CT manufacturers, healthcare providers, and regulatory bodies, is vital. By working together, they can share knowledge, address challenges, and establish guidelines for the safe and effective use of CT technology.

What strategies can be employed to stay competitive in the CT market, considering the rapid advancements in technology and the emergence of new players?

To stay competitive in the CT market, companies need to prioritise innovation and adapt to the rapid advancements in technology. This can be achieved by investing in research and development to develop new features and capabilities that meet evolving customer needs. For example, integrating AI and machine learning algorithms into CT systems can provide automated analysis, improved image quality, and advanced diagnostic tools. Innovations in new detector materials like photon counting technology to improve image resolution, reduce radiation dose further and carry out spectral imaging are revolutionising CT and overcoming many limitations that existed so far. Companies should also focus on improving patient experience and workflow efficiency. This includes developing user-friendly interfaces, implementing automation features, and providing seamless integration with other healthcare systems.

Additionally, offering comprehensive training and support services to healthcare professionals using CT scanners can help build customer loyalty and satisfaction.

Furthermore, fostering strategic partnerships with healthcare providers and research institutions can enable collaboration in research, clinical trials, and product development. By aligning with key stakeholders, CT manufacturers can stay at the forefront of emerging trends and gain a competitive edge in the market.

What steps can be taken to foster strong relationships with key stakeholders (hospitals, medical professionals, and regulatory bodies,) to promote the adoption and use of CT solutions?

To foster strong relationships with key stakeholders, CT manufacturers should prioritise effective communication and collaboration. This involves actively engaging hospitals, medical professionals, and regulatory bodies through various channels, such as conferences, workshops, and industry forums.

Understanding the specific needs and challenges of healthcare providers is crucial. By listening to their feedback and incorporating their input into product development, CT manufacturers can create solutions that address realworld problems and add value to their customers. Complying with regulatory standards and actively participating in discussions with regulatory bodies is essential for promoting the

Companies should also focus on improving patient experience and workflow efficiency.This includes developing userfriendly interfaces, implementing automation features,and providing seamless integration with other healthcare systems

adoption and use of CT solutions. By demonstrating the safety, efficacy, and benefits of their products, manufacturers can build trust and credibility with regulatory bodies, fostering a supportive regulatory environment for CT technology.

How do data analytics and AI contribute to CT solutions, and how can their potential be harnessed to elevate diagnostic capabilities?

Data analytics and AI play a significant role in CT solutions by enabling advanced image analysis, decision support, and workflow optimisation. AI algorithms can assist in tasks such as image reconstruction,

noise reduction, and artifact correction, leading to improved image quality and diagnostic accuracy. AI-based automation can help standardise the workflow for each clinical condition and patient type, irrespective of the experience level of the CT technologist.

Moreover, AI can aid in the detection and characterisation of abnormalities in CT scans, helping radiologists identify potential areas of concern more efficiently. By leveraging large datasets and machine learning techniques, AI algorithms can learn from past cases and provide valuable insights to support clinical decision-making.

Data analytics can also be employed to analyse and

optimise CT scanner performance, patient throughput, and resource allocation. By analysing data from CT scanners, hospitals can identify bottlenecks, streamline workflows, and improve operational efficiency.

Could you provide insights into some of the recent innovations in the field of CT technology?

The most recent innovation is CT based on Photon counting detector technology. It represents a breakthrough in medical imaging by providing enhanced image quality, improved diagnostic accuracy, and reduced radiation exposure for patients.

use energy-integrating detectors that measure the overall energy deposited by Xray photons passing through the body. In contrast, photon counting CT employs specialised detectors capable of counting individual X-ray photons.

The key advantage of photon counting detectors is their ability to measure the energy of each detected photon accurately. This information enables the differentiation of photons based on their energy levels, leading to improved tissue characterisation and material decomposition. It allows for the extraction of quantitative information about tissue composition, such as distinguishing between different types of calcium

deposits or identifying specific contrast agents. It helps reduce radiation dose further and doubles the image resolution compared to the best of conventional CT scanners.

What does the company envision for its future in the Indian market, and are there any upcoming products in the pipeline that you can share with us?

We have already launched our NAEOTOM Alpha, Photon Counting CT scanner in the Indian market. Any new product launched by us globally would also be launched in India after the due regulatory approvals.

Kalyani.sharma@expressindia.com journokalyani@gmail.com

Traditional CT scanners

An aspiring nation needs modern regulatory frameworkfor patient safety

In light of the recent government decision to permit the import of pre-owned medical equipment, Rajiv Nath,Forum Coordinator,AiMeD,expresses concerns about its potential negative impact on the manufacturing and innovation of medical devices in India.He emphasises that this move may lead to a slowdown in investments in the sector and could discourage domestic manufacturers

The most important aspect of our NMD (National Medical Devices) Policy 2023 is the patient-centric approach. The Policy aims to build an innovative and globally competitive industry in India, supported by world-class infrastructure in alignment with PM Gati Shakti, Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat programs. The goal is to become a global leader in the manufacturing and innovation of medical devices by increasing our market share in the global market from the current 1.5 per cent to 10-12 per cent in the next 25 years.

This is a huge step forward considering the lack of access to home grown medical devices noticed at the onset of COVID-19 in 2020, that had led to severe lockdown critical healthcare insecurity exposed. Regretfully the government is now being misled by some administrators and India recently slid back by 2 steps from achieving these global ambitions. First, by recently allowing the imports of preowned medical equipment and re-manufacturing or re-furbishing of medical imaging systems and other medical electronic equipment it will increase the risk of importing contaminated products into the country. This will negatively impact the manufacturing and innovation of medical devices in India, slow down investments in the sector, and discourage domestic manufacturers.We must understand the motives of MNCs who want to dump their obsolete and old equipment in India, as this used equipment have no market in their own countries. They are replacing them with new products and new technology. We should also understand why these preowned products are not allowed in China, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia etc.This is an attempt to

mislead Indian policymakers and derail them from PM Gati Shakti, Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat programs by allowing these substandard products in India and it confuses Investors as they will not be able to compete commercially with these low priced imports. Should India be importing preowned equipment in name of affordable access where clinics don’t necessarily give a discount to patients by way of age of equipment or would patients gain more long term by country seeking investments to Make in India?

Patient safety may be hugely compromised with exposure to obsoleted technology and absence of calibration and validated performance and attempts for maintenance by jugaads. This policy needs a review and roll back as its better for India and for the consumers for the country to invest in Make in India.

Who is confusing the government?

An Industry Promotion Body called FICCI that’s permitted it’s medical devices division to be misused for helping Overseas manufacturers dangle carrots of affordable access to patients to befool the policy makers so that their overseas replacement market can thrive and the near obsolete equipment is dumped in India so money is made twice and to the detriment of the upcoming healthy domestic competition by way of recent investments in medical electronics Devices manufacturing .

One step forward two steps back

2nd step backward. Government plans to table a New Bill on Drugs, Cosmetics & Devices to Parliament this monsoon session with the intended aim of ensuring higher Patient Safety. Regretfully an opportunity to provide progressive modern

regulations benchmarked to latest best international regulations is being squandered away as it’s a flawed Bill by a Flawed Process – drafted without following due democratic pre legislative processes and that continues to seek to regulate devices alongside Drugs instead of using the opportunity to bring in a progressive modern separate law for addressing Patient Safety needs as in Canada, UK , EU , Brazil , Japan , Saudi Arabia etc . It’s even revised the definition of manufacturer that will now allow a marketing company to be labelled and licensed as Manufacturer and proposes to legalise Pseudo Manufacturing for possible low quality cheaper imports that may affect patient safety. Unfortunately, the Bill discourages investments to manufacture these in India by treating actual manufacturers as potential criminals while overseas manufacturers are not needing to go through the same rigours to demonstrate conformity.

Patients gain if there’s a healthy competition between multiple domestic manufacturers. For this, investment and entrepreneurship in medical device manufacturing needs to be encouraged. Those engineers and scientists who step forward to design and develop products need to do so fearlessly following defined simple regulatory pathways. Manufacturers similarly need to be disciplined and compliant to regulatory conformity requirements and prove conformity by third party certification or testing to accredited certification bodies and laboratories. The regulators and QCI’s NABCB (National Accreditation Board of Certification Bodies) need to jointly supervise the performance of these Certification Bodies and laboratories

to ensure a competent staff with relevant expertise is auditing manufacturers and seeking continuous improvement in quality management systems and product performance. India needs to move away from “Inspector Raj” with inspectors empowered for search and seizure for even licensed manufacturers and treat them as criminals with threats of imprisonment for even minor offences.

Laws need to be reasonable and implementable and change for a progressive aspiring nation. Medical electronic Devices which are an engineering product like cars can’t be manufactured or regulated like drugs and need to be stored, transported, installed, and maintained and regularly calibrated to ensure patient safety for the lifecycle of the product. Users need to be trained and skilled to use medical devices safely and appropriately and have a shared responsibility.

We can’t be building world class expressways designed for speed of over 120 km per hour and expect public to drive at a speed limit of 60 km per hour and fine and harass majority of them for breaking the law. Instead, if strong discipline is inculcated, we need to aim for safer higher speed limits until we have the confidence to trust our drivers like in Germany and possibly not even have an upper speed limit but a minimal speed limit on the express ways. A strong post market surveillance is needed to monitor the medical devices marketplace to ensure the regulatory system is performing well, and when triggered by an adverse event reporting then instead of witch-hunting, systemic preventive and corrective actions are sought by regulators to ensure patient safety.

HEALTHCARE IT

Data-driven healthcare is here: Are you ready?

The healthcare sector is undergoing a radical transformation. While it is evolving to meet the dynamic regulatory, patient care and corporate challenges, data has emerged as the key factor to reduce costs of treatment, predict outbreaks of epidemics, avoid p reventable diseases, and improve the quality of life in general.

According to IDC, the global datasphere is expected to be 175 zettabytes in 2025, with healthcare expected to be the fastest growing sector.

Healthcare service providers are increasingly leveraging datasets to optimise today’s treatment delivery methods, to enhance hospital performance overall. There are three fundamental realities that are currently shaping healthcare data — it is siloed, it is growing, and it is under attack, which is why a cloud infrastructure is becoming critical to sustaining the healthcare industry’s digital goals.

Trends reshaping healthcare data

The pandemic has been cited as the number one reason for driving transformation across industries, and healthcare was probably the biggest generator of data. In fact, data has been pivotal in making healthcare more equitable.

Data is increasingly being used to ascertain the gaps impeding quality healthcare for all people. It has played a significant role in improving and expanding remote patient monitoring and engagement.

According to an expansive research by Markets N Research, the global electronic health record software market is expected to exhibit strong growth, reaching USD 47.2 billion by 2028. This significant dependency on digital data has consequently con-

tributed to the spurt in ransomware attacks against healthcare organisations. The 2022 edition of IBM security study titled ‘Cost of a Data Breach Report’ states that an

average healthcare data breach costs can easily surpass $10M. The healthcare industry is also the one most likely to pay the ransom, given the critical sensitivity of the

data held.

With regulations encompassing various areas of healthcare business emerging as a formidable challenge, companies in this vertical need to analyse and report on the data they are collecting. The need of the hour, therefore, is access to quality, current and comprehensive data. Considering these trends, data can come across as a double-edged sword. While it holds immense potential, if not managed properly, it can also prove detrimental to business and technology.

To effectively address data management challenges, healthcare providers need a simple, fast, purpose-built, and comprehensive data management platform that spans across the enterprise and can unlock the power of data to solve critical industry challenges.

Cloud-based data recovery solutions are steadily becoming the go-to choice for Indian enterprises as it helps them effectively deal with the majority of issues surrounding traditional backup and recovery solutions. It allows them to scale up or down by adding required cloud computing resources, leverage a pay-asyou-go pricing model, store data across multiple geographic locations, etc.

Aholistic data management platform

To unlock value for business and technology, healthcare enterprises must opt for a platform which will allow for several critical functions. The solution should have the ability to ingest multiple and growing data streams from varied sources such as patient-generated data, claims and multiple EHRs. It should also be able to standardise and normalise the data so that it can be utilised in multiple

ways — support analytics efforts, shared outside the organisation etc.

An effective data management platform must mirror the dynamics of the fastevolving and growing healthcare industry. It should possess the capability to support rapidly changing technologies and movement of data across various applications and storage platforms.

Besides, it must be easily manageable to reduce costs, drive the standardisation of data policies, minimise organisational disruption, and facilitate operational efficiencies.

Transforming to become data driven

As the healthcare industry further moves towards data standardization, there will be an increase in the deployment and development of technologies such as precision health, predictive analytics, and mHealth that leverage data generated by multiple systems, across multiple organisations.

Healthcare organisations, therefore, have no choice but to become data driven and digitally inclusive. As the healthcare sector turns ‘smart’ by replacing the conventional working models with cutting-edge technology pioneered models, business and technology leaders will have to ameliorate their data management strategies to align with these cutting-edge models.

A unified platform that can protect modern IT environments while delivering a consolidated view of vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and potential threats could be a game changer in making clinical data easily accessible and actionable while ensuring effective, personalised patient care.

Balaji Rao,Area Vice President,India & SAARC,Commvault emphasises that the pandemic has been cited as the number one reason for driving transformation across industries,and healthcare was probably the biggest generator of data

There are three fundamental realities that are currently shaping healthcare data-it is siloed,it is growing,and it is under attack,which is why a cloud infrastructure is becoming critical to sustaining the healthcare industry’s digital goals

Increasing healthcare workforce gap and howit can be bridged

Harshal Goyal,Vice President-Talent Solutions,NLB Services talks about some of the problems contributing to

Healthcare professionals are the spine of the healthcare industry and its systems. The provision for quality healthcare services is directly dependent on these professionals’ availability and accessibility. However, WHO has already predicted a global shortage of 10 million health workers by the year 2030.

Some of the problems contributing to the continuous shortage of healthcare staff include:

◆ Under-investment in training and education of healthcare workers

◆ Gap between employment and education strategies in healthcare systems

◆ Deployment difficulties in remote or underserved locations

◆ Rising attrition and immigration, mainly in low and lowermiddle-income economies

Today, countries at all stages of socioeconomic development are facing varying challenges in educating, employing, deploying, retaining, and managing the performance of their healthcare workforce.Attrition from the health workforce is contributing to the critical shortage of healthcare workers, creating a hurdle for countries seeking to reach their universal health coverage goals. It is now important to study the ongoing attrition rates to conduct effective workforce planning. The world may soon begin to fall short by millions of nurses, unless we act to stem the flow of attrition and build a better healthcare workforce. In order to do that, let us first understand the current situation of healthcare workforces around the globe.

The above facts and figures about healthcare attrition and nurses’ rates of intention to quit suggest that the shortage of healthcare professionals is now recognised as a global crisis. Without immediate action, this healthcare workforce gap shall continue to grow wider. Here are a few solutions that can help the healthcare industry better

continuous

of healthcare staff in India

manage its workforce.

Suggested measures to address looming workforce challenges

To effectively respond to the workforce shortage in healthcare, we must concentrate on the following key areas:

Establishing governance frameworks

Governments should be converging their efforts toward healthcare workforce planning and by joining hands with the private sector to meet future needs. The industry will benefit with the establishment of an empowered group for the national healthcare workforces and development of Healthcare Professional Registry & Accreditation Systems. Formulating standard treatment guidelines for workforces will help. They may also run targeted campaigns to draw talent for their healthcare workforce.

Upskilling healthcare professionals

Every country has its own set of challenges but the stakeholders must learn to empower and retain the valuable healthcare resources in the wake of high attrition. They must consider healthcare workforce planning that takes into account the health needs of the population, population growth and disease burden. The key to retaining quality staff is to improve the quality of talent by imparting knowledge and simultaneously strengthening the learning approaches, for students as well as the faculty or subject matter experts. It is necessary to set up upskilling initiatives through innovative partnership models so that the professionals remain highly skilled and relevant.

Investment in healthcare education infrastructure Systemic gaps in skills and knowledge bring forth the need for not just knowledge assistance and upskilling for career advancement, but also demand

the

shortage

investment in formal education. Subsidies or financial aid must be provided to healthcare education institutes to build and operationalise medical colleges and to also leverage prevailing

Attrition from the health workforce is contributing to the critical shortage of healthcare workers, creating a hurdle for countries seeking to reach their universal health coverage goals

hospitals for the purpose of training and skilling of healthcare workforces. Furthermore, healthcare enterprises should be encouraged to channel their Corporate Social Responsibility funds to offer specialist training to nurses and doctors.

Incentives for the healthcare workforce

Incentivisation of the workforce is imperative and can be done at an early stage by offering incentives like stipends during internships, easy access to loans at lower rates of interest and free medical insurance. Other incentives for healthcare workers may include occupational hazard insurance and preference for children’s admissions which can go a long way in drawing and retaining talent in the workforce.

Leveraging digital academies

Digital literacy in healthcare workforces, especially in rural locations, will be key to the success of state-run initiatives. Holistic endeavors aimed to drive digital health literacy

(DHL) should include eLearning platforms and programs that can be used digitally to provide faculty with a structured, user-friendly set of assistive tools to teach and monitor the

progress of learning professionals. Such virtual academies also help unlock the true potential of emerging technologies by providing simulation-based experiences for medical education.

healthcare professionals today can make shortages of the future way worse. Let us come together to train and retain these valuable resources, and make the world a healthier place. EXPRESS HEALTHCARE 25

START-UPS

Indian health tech start-ups: Game changers of the health sector

Sudhanshu Mittal,Head & Director Technical Solutions,NASSCOM CoE IoT& AI explains how health tech start-ups have become saviours in disguise

The post-pandemic era is the beginning of a multi-year opportunity rather than a bubble, for many industries, including the health sector. Events of the recent past have exposed the inadequacies of the world’s healthcare systems, and these have profound implications for health, economic progress, faith in governing system, and social cohesion, alike. Clearly, the need for a robust healthcare system empowered with digital health solutions is at an inflection point, creating opportunity for tech-enabled start-ups that are looking to change the face of India's vast infrastructure and investmenthungry healthcare industry with their innovative solutions.

Healing the health of the nation

The demand for tech-enabled and digitally-focused healthcare is growing, and taking cue, the Indian healthcare sector is rapidly evolving to serve and survive. From affordable insurance, easy access to doctors and medicines, and the invention of tech-enabled lifesaving treatments, the quality of healthcare has improved vastly. However, the Indian healthcare ecosystem suffers from ailments such as a low doctor-to-patient ratio, and the state of healthcare in tier-2 cities and rural areas. According to a 2021 study, the density of the active health workforce in India is only slightly above a quarter of the WHO’s recommendation, which stands at 44.5 skilled health workers per 10,000 population. This vividly indicates the areas which have scope for improvement.

Here, health tech start-ups have become our saviours in disguise. Fuelled by emerging technologies and connectivity

solutions, health tech start-ups are coming up with fresh ideas to democratise healthcare. The likes of telemedicine and teleconsultation are providing people living in tier II, tier III cities and rural areas with healthcare access and facilities that was previously unheard of. AI based physician assistant solutions are improving the efficiency of the doctors currently available. Smart microscopes are making diagnostic services available in low resource areas.

Investing to ensure a healthyhealth-care infrastructure

Although the potential of the solutions offered by healthcare startups is supposed to be the appropriate success metric, the robust investor activities

can only be expected if the startup’s capability to scale, is evident. This is often determined by the solutions’ ability to integrate with existing systems, its underlying ease of use, and adherence to regulatory compliances, apart from the cost of implementation. Recent reports state that the total funding into domestic healthtech companies dropped to 1.4 billion dollars in 2022, a 55 per cent on-year fall when compared to 2021.

In this evolving scenario, solutions focused on enhanced patient experiences, reduced mortality rate and improved productivity or data-based clinical outcomes are alluring investors greatly. Startups that have completed clinical trials or have substantial clinical validation demonstrating the effi-

cacy and safety of their critical care solutions are valued by investors. In fact, scalable, disruptive business models that can show a return on investment will be most successful, and among them, AI/ML and deep learning-empowered startups will be the tablestakes.

Cutting to the chase, demonstrating effectiveness and market opportunity, managing sales cycles and capital, and remaining regulation compliant, should be the mantra being adopted by startups.

Corporates and start-ups can collaborate to coinnovate and co-create

It is not very difficult to comprehend why corporate partnerships with start-ups is a good bet; while start-ups can

use corporate funding as the wind beneath their wings, gain resources, and customer access, corporates on the other hand can fulfil their need to innovate and stay ahead of competitors and disruption, while also accessing new technology through startups.

Hospitals, diagnostic chains and clinical research organisations are working with innovators to develop critical care solutions and empower those pursuing clinical research studies, while aiming for product enhancement. Corporates are making strategic investments in high-impact startups in the critical care area to bolster them with growth capital. Some corporates even boast designated venture arms that are involved in the in-house or partnered incubation programs to help scale promising startups. Additionally, tech platforms and product enterprises are engaging with startups to grant them resources for product development and deployment.

Digital healthcare is a priority for India and there are various initiatives, like the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) by the National Health Authority (NHA), which are creating the backbone for an Integrated Digital Healthcare ecosystem. Coupled with these initiatives, nimble and consumer-focused health tech startups have begun to fill the gap between current and future needs, enabling a path toward the ‘Future of Health’.

In fact, health tech startups in India are currently enjoying robust growth, and hopefully, with thousands more set to take seed in the coming years, the state of healthcare in India looks extremely promising.

Fuelled by emerging technologies and connectivity solutions,health tech start-ups are coming up with fresh ideas to democratise healthcare

HEALTHCARE TRACKER

Urinalysis: Automation is leading the way

Shobhit Jain,Sr.Manager,Product

–

Clinical

Chemistry,Urinalysis,Marketing Events

and Branding marketing,Sysmex highlights that automation has changed the way of testing, reporting and documentation of laboratories with improved quality and lowered TAT

Urine analysis is comprising of Physical, Routine and Microscopic examination. It is an integral part of clinical laboratories and one of the most performed diagnostic tests. This simple, noninvasive test is potent screening tool for clinicians, which can provide as much as possible information on the status of renal, urological, infection and metabolic function in the body. Apart from routine screening, it may also be helpful in uncovering status of disease that may not be showing significant signs or symptoms.

A lot of vital information can be obtained through urine examination, still its clinical utility is affected to a great extent by limitation of its conventional manual methods including bio-chemical and microscopy. Biochemical analysis is improved with reagent strips, but challenge remained in microscopic part. Other challenges like non standardization of process, person to person variation, centrifugation and slide preparation needed a

whole automated system in place with minimum human involvement and maximize automation.

In last decade there were paradigm shift in laboratory

operations and now automation is leading the way for Urinalysis testing. Technological advancement in biochemical analysis and microscopic examination in urinalysis has

help to set and standardise process. Automation has changed the way of testing, reporting and documentation of laboratories with improved quality and lowered TAT.

Some of the key features of automation in Urinalysis are standardisation, quality control, added clinical values, data management, accuracy, and reproducibility.

Automation in Urinalysis can be further categorised in Bio-chemical analysis and Particle analysis (Microscopy). In Bio-chemical analysis, CMOS sensor has played a great role in identifying strip pad position, optimizing detection area, correction of abnormal coloration.

This cutting-edge technology has eliminated all possible errors due to manual process. Similarly, for particle analysis, Fluorescence Flow Cytometry technology has great advantage as it can recognize specific and unique properties of different particles by size, labeling DNA, complexity, and specific features, and so determining the particle type. Also, high accuracy of bacteria counts and, accurate differentiation in RBC morphology (Isomorphic and Dysmorphic) is helping in faster diagnosis and better patient care. Looking at the facts it can be concluded that future of urinalysis lies in automation.

Some of the key features of automation in Urinalysis are standardisation,quality control, added clinical values,data management,accuracy,and reproducibility

PolyMed Dial-Ezee: Dialysis product that treats you,not just your condition

The

dialysis

machine developed

Poly Medicure Ltd. (Polymed) is a medical device company founded in 1997 with a vision to serve people through innovative healthcare solutions. We have been the largest exporter of consumable medical devices for the last 9 years and our products are supplied in more than 125 countries. For a decade we have been on a mission to improve the quality of life for patients with kidney failure by providing them with safe, effective, and affordable dialysis treatment.

Polymed is at the forefront of meeting the surging demand that is arising currently in this sector. With its team of experts in renal care and focused research, Polymed has resulted in providing a high-end hemodialysis machine with an Inbuilt SLED facility, ensuring better health outcomes for the patients and addressing the ICU needs at an affordable cost. The dialysis machine developed by Polymed consists of all the latest features and benefits, which are currently available in the market and accepted by end-users.

Cutting-edge features of Dial Ezee include:

◆ In-built SLED facility

◆ Variable dialysate flow from 100 to 800 mL/min (with an increment of 1 mL/min)

◆ Dual blood pump/ Single blood pump

◆ 30 mins Battery backup

◆ 15-inch LCD with touchscreen

◆ 7-8 mins machine preparation time

◆ Self-testing functions

◆ Audio-Visual Alarm

Dial Ezee transports the toxins and excess water filtered from the blood out of the body. The machine pumps blood from the patient’s body through the bloodlines into the dialyzer.

by

Polymed consists of all the latest features and benefits,which are currently available in the market and accepted by end-users

Apart from the dialysis machine, Polymed manufactures a range of dialyzers called “Haem-O-flux” available in 3 different variants Low Flux, Middle Flux and high Flux. During haemodialysis, the blood is pumped through a filter called a dialyzer. The dialysis machine (Dial Ezee) pumps the blood through the filter Haem-O-flux) and return the blood to the body. During the process, the dialysis machine checks the blood pressure and controls how quickly, the blood flows through the Haem-O-flux.

Cutting-edge features of Haem-O-flux include:

◆ Higher solute and hydraulic permeability

◆ High biocompatibility

◆ Removes a wide range of uremic toxins.

◆ High endotoxin retention capability

◆ Ultra smooth PU cut surface with uniform pore size.

◆ PES/PS membrane

◆ Shelf life of 36 months

◆ Variants available: Low Flux, Middle Flux & High Flux Polymed offers a wide range of renal care products – from dialysis machines and dialyzers to bloodlines and fistula needles. With its emphasis on cutting-edge technology and a vision of serving people through innovat ive healthcare solutions. Polymed aims at providing global standards of care with high-quality and affordable medical devices.

The fluid is introduced against the flow of blood through a separate circuit that is also controlled by the dialysis machine. In addition, the device injects heparin, which restrains coagulation in the extracorporeal circuit. The system has several automatic monitoring and control functions that ensure safe and efficient dialysis treatment for patients.

The company constantly continues to expand its portfolio of products with consistent R&D initiatives, investment in the latest technologies, and by scaling up its manufacturing capabilities. Polymed has successfully been able to fulfill its promise of delivering safe, quality, and innovative medical devices to the medical community for 26 years now.

Dial Ezee transports the toxins and excess water filtered from the blood out of the body.The machine pumps blood from the patient’s body through the bloodlines into the dialyzer

HEALTHCARE TRACKER

Medikabazaar introduces India’s first on demand service platform for medical equipment lifecycle management

Based on market feedback and detailed analysis of customer issues,Medikabazaar is launching MBARC

Medical Equipment

Lifecycle management is highly inefficient in India for most of the mid-size and large hospitals. Every hospital wants to guarantee that its medical devices and CAPEX stay operational and available, but the high cost and lack of service providers, particularly in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, exacerbate the problem.

Based on market feedback and detailed analysis of customer issues, Medikabazaar is launching MBARC. MBARC covers three important tenets of Equipment lifecycle management and the name has been derived to reflect these three unique product offerings: MBARC (Medikabazaar Asset Management, Recycle and Care) has been designed as an end-to-end platform to help hospitals manage their biomedical assets. MBARC is a on demand service aggregation model by Medikabazaar, India's largest online B2B platform for medical supplies.

◆ MB Asset Management will enable hospitals, clinics and

This is yet another initiative by Medikabazaar that opens a great job opportunity for the bio medical engineers PAN India as they can be part of the MBARC service team and be part of the big revolution MBARC is bringing to the medical equipment lifecycle service market

medical institutes to manage the entire lifecycle of healthcare assets through a cuttingedge automated system. Monitor, Measure & Manage all the hospital’s capital assets at a click of a button for seamless, cost-effective and efficient operations.

◆ MB Recycle of medical equipment will be done through restoration, reconditioning, repairing, replacement of worn parts, and installation of a device. Hospitals may also buy, recycle or sell old medical equipment that is fit to be used.

◆ MB Care will provide a onestop shop to book all your biomedical services including preventive maintenance,

Installation and Commission, Equipment Safety Test and audit, calibration, and user training.

Medikabazaar with the pool of trained and qualified engineers is serving the hospitals in tier1, tier2, and tier 3 cities with the newest technology. Medikabazaar has also launched the MBARC app to connect hospitals with biomedical service engineers and enable them to book services in a few clicks.

You may add one or multiple devices on the "My Devices" section of the app, and book services for each device seamlessly. View your past bookings through the bookings section, you may view current and past

service bookings, the devices serviced, the brand and the service booked date.

In the launch phase, MBARC covers the following devices currently viz. ECG Machine, Treadmill Systems, Defibrillator, Rapid Infuser, Oxygen Concentrator, Patient Monitor, Fetal Monitor, Ventillator, BiPaP, CPaP, Dental Chair, Air compressor, Dental Xray, Handpiece, Scaler, Suction, ABG Machine, Biochemistry Analyzer, Electrolyte Analyzer, Immunoassay Analyzer, Hematology Analyzer, Lab Equipments, Xray, Carm,Mammography, BMD, CR, DR, CT, MR, PET CT, Phototherapy, Warmers, Dialysis, EEG, EMG,

Smoke Evacuator, HIPEC Machines, OT table hydraulic, OT table electronic, OT Light Portable, OT light Ceiling, Electro Surgical Unit(cautery machine), Boyles apparatus, Anaesthesia workstation, Syringe Pumps, Infusion Pumps, Suction Machine, Laproscopics, Ortho Helmet, Ortho Power Tool( hand piece), Tourniquet( ATS), DVT pumps. Additionally, MBARC also covers services for high CAPEX devices such as MRI, CT scan, Pet CT and HIPEC for our partner brands.

This is yet another initiative by Medikabazaar that opens a great job opportunity for the bio medical engineers PAN India as they can be part of the MBARC service team and be part of the big revolution MBARC is bringing to the medical equipment lifecycle service market.

With MBARC, you are just a click away to access an extensive network of competent and certified service engineers to take care of any repair and maintenance needs of your medical equipment.

SeeNewPossibilitiesBeyondtheImage

ThenewAlphenixfamilyofinterventionalsystemsdeliverimageswithgreaterclarityandprecision.

Combinedwithindustry-leadingdoseoptimizationtechnologies,enhancedworkflow,andanewsetoffeatures,Alphenixcontinues CanonMedical’scommitmenttosupportingyouandyourmissiontoprovidepatientswithsafe,accurateandfastimaging.

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