LATEST ADVANCES IN DIAGNOSTICS AND THE IVD INDUSTRY

It is important for administrators and budget-makers to recognize that only some, but not all, Medical Devices fulfill diagnostic functions. Diagnostics may be divided into two main branches with series of sub-branches. Broadly, there are In vitro diagnostics commonly referred to as IVD. In vitro simply means 'in glass', because these tests are typically conducted in test tubes, with reagents and such - generally conducted in laboratories and not within patients. Examples include: self-tests for pregnancy, blood glucose monitors for diabetics, HIV tests, blood type identification and cancer screening. Then there are In vivo diagnostics which are conducted in or on the body itself. Examples include: medical imaging in all forms such as X-rays, ultra-sound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT).

Both branches are set to merge – in vivo patches and implants becoming data collectors for in vitro investigation to begin with. Eventually there’ll be a phase when such implants will actually conduct sophisticated diagnosis within patients themselves.

For decades, Indian doctors have recognized the need for evidence based treatment. Diagnostics made up approximately 6% of the health-care-spend in 2018 and with the onset of Covid is growing at over 20%. The outlook for the 10-billion dollar diagnostics industry in India is extremely favourable for such a rate of growth; being driven by rapid technological advancement as well as enhanced awareness and health consciousness. Health oriented applications, online services, collection systems are all augmenting further growth.

Standalone centres constituted 80% of diagnostic services in 2000 but are now down to 40% levels having given way to dedicated players or hospital-based diagnostic centres.

But questions remain about affordability, equitability, and our outreach to rural India!