THE MEDICAL FRONTIER
What are some significant innovations taking place in your respective field(s)? Which among these is the most exciting and why? How will it (or they, if more than one) impact your organization?
• Technology for Improving Access to Eye Care Systems for Remote Screening and Diagnostics
The ongoing spectrum of noncommunicable diseases, such as diabetes, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and others which are age, lifestyle, and nutrition related disorders affecting the global population, have driven technology to detect diseases earlier using both remote and onsite resources. The above arguments, combined with efficient sensors and light sources, smartphone and tablet displays, and improved computational power chips have directed the efforts of improving and building portable diagnostic devices.
• Taking Visual Function Testing Beyond Primary Eye Clinics
Due to its importance, visual acuity measurement was among the first tests developed in the realm of portable devices. One is the Vizmeter, which is a portable device for measuring visual acuity and defining subjective refraction by means of personal devices such as a smartphone.
• Portable Anterior Segment and Cataract Diagnosis
The PEEK project is one such smartphonebased tool. PEEK Retina is an attachment that slips over the built-in camera of the smartphone or ipad. With the PEEK app, it can focus on the retina or cataracts and display images on the screen.
• Fundus Imaging for Disease Detection
Several fundus-imaging devices have undertaken meaningful design improvements. Hence, spectrums of devices with different capabilities, functionalities and cost have arrived. An overview of meaningful fundus-imaging devices such as Portable Eye Examination Kit (PEEK), 3nethra, Pictor Plus.
• Technology to Improve Delivery of Remote Eye Care
The tele-ophthalmic slit lamp is one such product being used in clinics. A regular slit lamp has been robotized with precision stepper and servomotors to motorize all the slit lamp functions. The slit lamp’s ocular lenses have been replaced with two Charged Coupled Device (CCD) video cameras. The robotized slit lamp can be operated from any remote location with an internet-connected computing device. Placing such slit lamps at the vision centers located at a primary village level would function nicely as screening tools, whereby patients can be seen “just in time” and “on the go” by ophthalmologists stationed in off-site secondary centers and receive sight saving-guided treatment to include faster referral to the secondary or tertiary centers by the vision technicians manning the primary center. This can also be used for follow-up of post-operative eye whose procedures were performed within off-site secondary or tertiary centers.
• Technology to Build Capacity for Delivery of High-quality Eye Care To enable the clinician to remain efficient as well as reduce the underlying skill set, requirements for electronic patient record analysis, automated tools for analysis of data (Artificial Intelligence), segmentation of disease indicators, and automated decision support systems are available. These technologies are widely used in fundus image analysis for detection of diabetic retinopathy as well as other retinal disorders, cataract grading, visual morbidities and functional vision measurements.
The service frontier: healthcare provision
It will not be enough for the medicine and surgery to innovate without the innovation of the delivery of these services. One of the potential opportunities for innovation in the way ophthalmic services is provided is by increasing the role of primary care. Eye care services are an area where there is clear potential to develop a wider range of community based services, making better use of the skills and resources in primary care.
● Tele-ophthalmology has the potential to be utilized for the purposes of DR screening, diagnosis of glaucoma, and monitoring for AMD, to name a few.
● Dedicated Ophthalmology clinics equipped with remote screening devices
● Expanding the scope of teleophthalmology from vision centers to home
● Web-based refraction systems like Eyenetra can unlock the whole new area in telemedicine in community eye health.
Are you planning any new launches or are looking to open up new markets?
We have recently commenced our facilities at new Centres at Bhubaneshwar and Guwahati. We are also planning to start our facilities at new locations like Ranchi, Siliguri & Noida.
In addition, we have launched multiple CFS Vision Centres throughout Delhi NCR - an “All-under-one-roof” eye care concept. Patients can not only purchase quality eyewear, contact lenses and sunglasses, but also have a comprehensive eye check up with an optometrist and and ophthalmologist. This concept gives patients the added benefit of early diagnosis of multiple eye ailments.
Can cooperation with AYUSH lead to synergies for you? If so how?
At present seems slight challenging, but yes, opportunities and prospects can be assessed upon. Government is developing it as a strong counterpart in parallel with allopathic system. A well-defined mechanism has been put in place to achieve the intended integration of Modern medicine and Traditional Health systems of the country. Unquestionably, health seeking masses of the country going to get benefit the most. We are always open to being an apex referral network to cater to the most complex eye diseases, irrespective of the referrer belonging to any medical system.
While urban India is reasonably developed as far as medical facilities go; vast tracts remain deficient. What are some suggestions from you about how to go about rectification?
India has made significant advances in health of its populations over more than a decade, reducing the gap between rural and urban areas and between the rich and the poor. Huge disparities, however, still remain, and access to healthcare in rural areas still remains a huge challenge. There is a growing recognition that India needs to build a strong comprehensive primary healthcare system to accomplish any further advancements in health status of the populations and to reduce these disparities. National Health Policy 2016 and budgetary announcements of the year 2018 named as Ayushman Bharat have two components of strengthening healthcare in India: improving access and quality of primary healthcare through strengthening 1,50,000 subcenters and primary health centers (PHCS) [transforming them to health and wellness centers (H and WC)], and improving access to secondary and tertiary care through a near universal health insurance scheme.
Points to consider• Family centered healthcare
• Higher investments in healthcare
• State funded health insurance and implications for primary healthcare
• Building and empowering primary healthcare teams
• Training of rural healthcare professionals
We/centre For Sight is also planning to expand in catchment areas and many new areas are in pipeline.
In case you have taken up any charitable activities / social work / any such initiative do tell us about these?
The patient-centered values of efficiency, precision, compassion, and integrity have guided Centre for Sight from its beginnings. In 2017, We established the NDCFS Foundation and opened the Centre for Sight Eye Institute in Dwarka, Delhi, which is the largest private comprehensive super speciality eye institute in north India. The NDCFS Foundation was founded with the purpose of eradicating preventable and curable blindness caused by cataracts and other eye disorders in our country and rehabilitating as many individuals as possible. The "Foundation" seeks to provide highquality eye care to everyone, including medicine and cataract surgery, with a specific focus on the most socially and economically disadvantaged persons with low awareness levels who live in the most remote and inaccessible locations. If India's 8 million individuals living with preventable and curable blindness had access to eye treatment, 75 percent would be able to see again. NDCFS Foundations is working hard to make this a reality.the NDCFS, along with consultants from Delhi/ncr actively participate in walk-a-thons and campaigns directed towards spreading the awareness on diseases like retinoblastoma and diabetic retinopathy. Centre for Sight Hyderabad has flourished as the country’s leading ocular oncology setup with referrals pouring in from the world over. Our ocular oncology department offers contemporary and cost-effective approaches to preventing, diagnosing, and treating cancers of the eye, accessible to all.
Please get through your journey from doctor to healthcare strategist & Planning?
After graduating from the Armed Forces Medical College I joined the Army and served for over two decades. I saw many parts of the country during this time and was made aware of the challenges in the provision of care in remote areas as well as the lack of awareness due to the poor educational status present. There has been a dramatic change in the educational status since then and an equal increase in awareness. I was also to experience many natural disasters on ground (Uttarkashi and Gujarat quakes, floods, cyclones) and in planning relief (Kosi and Monsoon floods). These exposed me to the challenges of care provision as well the logistic and infrastructure challenges that have an impact on health. Apropos, the experience widened my thought processes and helped me in strategy and planning and ensured a more holistic appreciation of the systems for healthcare provision.
Healthcare IT & Digital Health is playing very important role in healthcare delivery.how you are seeing the transformation?
Healthcare IT can be a real game changer in provision of care. It does not seem to be progressing at the pace required due to challenges from the wide variety of medical personnel and their varied exposures or learning of IT. There are differences of expectations from all involved. IT needs to be able to enable clinicians to give more of their time in care activities which will make a significant difference. The use of IT in support activities has made work more efficient and addressed the logistic, design and operational issues. I feel that doctors and nurses need to take the lead in implementation of IT.
Can cooperation with AYUSH lead to synergies for you? If so how?
In India, the AYUSH systems have not developed as they should have. There are myriad reasons for this which are in the past. There is a push in recent times for the development which I feel is a step in the right direction. AYUSH practitioners must step up and ensure scientific validation of their systems is done to advance them in modern times. It is likely that their development will result in a holistic advancement in healthcare which can only have beneficial effects. In a vast country and population like ours this development will be a key factor in widening the accessibility and availability of care for the people. A healthy people will make for a successful nation.
While urban India is reasonably developed as far as medical facilities go; vast tracts remain deficient. What are some suggestions from you about how to go about rectification?
Urban areas have seen the development of tertiary care facilities which provide services at par with any global set up. Rural areas have always been a challenge globally due to the lower population density and the distances concerned. The solution is enhancing primary care and creating transportation avenues for accessing secondary or tertiary care. The role of the government is paramount in this. The use of IT for telemedicine is also an area that must be considered. There are some state governments that are taking great strides in this and have achieved tremendous benefits for their people. Telemedicine still has to reach its potential but there are encouraging signs of actions underway, including the legal ramifications. The role of the government, state and central, cannot be emphasised enough for ensuring the establishment of a robust primary system.
Recent acknowledgement & award received?
Most recent: Health Conference 2.0, Dubai, Mar 2022: Outstanding Leadership in Healthcare
Any thoughts on the role that Government can play – any tips / suggestions / view points that may be shared?
The role of the Government is of regulation, audits ensuring compliance including medicolegal. The importance of academic training is also one of key importance as it is the foundation and lays the bedrock upon which the whole system can be based. The development of the NMC is a critical step in this regard and the government has shown signs of willingness to listen to the key stakeholders and experts in the field on development of the formal statutes and requirements that will govern all practitioners. The review of ethical and legal templates is also underway. The role, educational syllabus and standards of paramedical staff has also started who play a key, though often unrecognised role, in care provision. The last area the government must look into is the Pharmaceutical and Me" dical Devices industry which plays an important role in actually providing the means to treat people.
AYUSH practitioners must step up and ensure scientific validation of their systems is done to advance them in modern times. It is likely that their development will result in a holistic advancement in healthcare which can only have beneficial effects.
What are some significant innovations taking place in your respective field(s)? Which among these is the most exciting and why? How will it (or they, if more than one) impact your organization?
Research and Innovation are the key to stay at the forefront of any emerging industry and that’s what we at Meteoric do, we constantly research and innovate our products to suit the market demands worldwide. Classic example of our innovation was foraying into formulations in the year 2018 and now we have developed over 100 formulations to cater to different segments like Women and Men health, Kids and Adolescents health, Geriatrics as well as Gut Health.
These innovations in the formulations area will help us reach to the end consumer and know the consumer sentiment which we had not experienced being a B2B organization, above all it will help us leap faster into the area of unique and novel formulations.
Are you planning any new launches or are looking to open up new markets?
Yes we are continuously working towards introducing products as per customer requirements in newer markets, worldwide. We developed and launched various immunomodulators, supplements and provided end-to-end solutions with extremely short turnaround timelines during the COVID times.
Some key learnings from the COVID-19 fallouts for the industry have been the importance of ensuring accessibility of medicines and formulations and reducing over and repetitive import dependency. From a company angle, we plan to focus
The collaboration between traditional healthcare and biotechnology is expected to enable tremendous possibilities to undertake innovative and path-breaking research, which can be used for the exploration of various fundamental principles of Ayush systems.
on developing a more customized range of health supplements, immune functions products and increasing awareness of biological products and We formulate unique formulations and provide services of product customization and concept formulation to our customers. Each product is backed by clinically proven well researched ingredients
We boast promoting biological solutions vs synthetic products in human as well as veterinary pharma process.
In 2022 our focus will be on expanding the production capability and yield of this particular strain of probiotics. We plan to produce and commercialize this specialty probiotic recently isolated and characterized by us. We plan to launch specialty probiotic and prebiotic – certain classic synbiotics. We are actively working on a certain vegan alternative of animal-originated enzymes, and will be launching a few of them.
In terms of infrastructure investment, we are building an advanced fermentation facility to scale up potential Probiotics, their culture, certain Vitamins in Bioavalaible form, and a few nutraceuticals imported in bulk from China. We will also include and expand more immunomodulator formulations.
Can cooperation with AYUSH lead to synergies for you? If so how?
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between Ministry of Ayush and Department of Biotechnology, Government of India with an aim to facilitate Inter-ministerial Cooperation for evidence based biotechnological interventions in Ayush sector (May 2022)
The collaboration between traditional healthcare and biotechnology is expected to enable tremendous possibilities to undertake innovative and path-breaking research, which can be used for the exploration of various fundamental principles of Ayush systems. It is believed that Biotechnological R&D and Ayush Interventions would improve quality of life and life span (Vayahsthaapana Rasayana), as well as bring down the associated morbidity pertaining to chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, osteoarthritis, cachexia, pain management and infectious diseases for example tuberculosis.
According to World Health Organization (WHO), 80% of the world population relies on herbal medicines for their primary health care and 45% world natural medicines are from plant origin. Therefore, exploring these synergies with this increasing demand of phytoextracts in natural product chemistry we are targeting the extraction of active metabolites in the form of purified herbal extracts to provide you the next door “one stop” solution with all kinds of herbal requirements along with the requisite technical support.
In case you have taken up any charitable activities / social work / any such initiative do tell us about these.
Along with our passion to grow we believe in deeper responsibility towards the society and hence we are working actively with our CSR partner VISHALWIN FOUNDATION. The foundation works with children and young adults with Down Syndrome, Autism, Global Developmental Delay and similar issues. Under the RENU Programme (Rehabilitation and Empowerment of Needy and Underprivileged) the foundation reaches out to children with special needs in the economically weaker section and identifies their early intervention needs by conducting medical camps in urban rurals. These children are checked by paediatric neurologists, psychotherapist, and physiotherapists during the camp and later given admission to an early intervention centre where their IEP (Individual Education Plan) is developed and their regular therapies like speech therapy, occupational therapy and physiotherapy is planned and executed. The goal is to make these children school ready.
Any thoughts on the role that Government can play – any tips / suggestions / view points that may be shared?
There is a need to organize the framework for incentive model into biopharma sector. The R & D costs for biopharma companies are exorbitant, support schemes incentivizing the R & D costs are sort from the government.
SME’S are major contributors into employment generation hence there has to be equal opportunities for SME’S. PLI schemes offered to the pharma sector are concentrated to larger brands and not companies dealing into biological API’S, ingredients which is the need of the hour, this scheme needs extent support to manufacturers of API’S, ingredients especially into biologicals.
Due to abrupt & extremely high freight charges as well as unavailability of containers & cargos SME'S are facing great challenge in export drive. This should be regulated (semi or completely) to increase profitability & increase export potential in which SME'S are top contributors.
What are some significant innovations taking place in your respective field(s)? Which among these is the most exciting and why? How will it (or they, if more than one) impact your organization?
The world of healthcare is transforming through continuous innovation. COVID-19 pushed growth healthcare industry and digitalization became the need of the hour to enable virtual consultations with all-time access to electronic medical records. One thing learned during the pandemic is the emphasis on remote care and we saw drastic expansion in the scope of remotely managed ICUS guided by better patient outcomes.
Hospitals have technologically advanced equipment to fully integrate into mobile operating systems, which enables doctors to coordinate with patients across multiple locations. We saw new IT solutions that allowed clinicians to access patient data anytime and anywhere. Such universal central monitoring platform enhances clinical decision-making and workflows to support clinicians in efficiently dealing with adverse events and diagnosing & treating patients. Clinical assistive/ai applications help doctors access a massive amount of clinical data to predict, prevent & diagnose many diseases. Hospitals' multiple ICUS were able to treat patients remotely through AI applications on CCTV, Mobile phones and laptops. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need to protect care providers who can avoid exposure and continue to treat patients. TELEICU has the potential to link all semi-urban/ urban hospitals to Tertiary care ICUS. It can improve the ICU services of these remote hospitals, thus, ensuring better care and providing real-time services to multiple care centers regardless of their locations. Tele-icus can help to cover a vast gap in quality healthcare expertise between rural & urban areas and overcome the shortage of specialist doctors.
Digital Healthcare is driving better clinical outcomes by ensuring digital connectivity of devices to make patient care more efficient, precise, and personalized. Recently many hospitals are making huge investments in developing software tools like electronic
medical records and hospital management systems to enable remote care easily accessible to patients.
The Healthcare IT industry needs to provide a costeffective solution with high-end medical equipment backed by sophisticated software solutions. India can experience a recurrence of the pandemic phase in the future, where we will need an affordable solution that can link critical patients of rural cities with highly trained clinical experts at minimal cost, and maintenance of such solutions must not be expensive so that they can be utilized in an optimal way to provide better, safer, and faster the healthcare services. Mindray’s latest innovation M-connect IT Solution provides a universal centric monitoring platform, which seamlessly integrates medical devices together, using a standard interface to connect with the 3rd party information system. It can optimize clinical workflow, improve efficiency, bring order to complicated tasks, and help clinicians easily cope with the various challenges they face, saving time and in turn saving lives.
Are you planning any new launches or are looking to open up new markets?
Our mission is to improve healthcare by optimizing and sharing medical technologies worldwide to provide better care for more people.
Mindray has recently launched its universally connected platform, M-connect, which unlocks the potential of individual patient monitoring with an integrated IT solution. This innovative platform can be connected to all bedside devices wirelessly to the central network which will help in better evaluation and users can generate customized reports. Moreover, the M-connect can greatly increase the management efficiency of medical devices and protect hospital investment. Employing Mindray IOT (M-IOT) technology, this universally connected platform can obtain information on all connected medical equipment, provide equipment statistical analysis, and output the distribution and usage of equipment in various departments in a graphical manner. It will provide a clinically oriented ecosystem based on an Artificial Intelligence algorithm and present Information in a smart way enabling better decision making. Moving from traditional single parameter information to comprehensive patient status via intelligent status and alarm monitoring.
How will Mindray contribute to improving healthcare infrastructure in India?
As Mindray, we are proud to have been a key contributor in providing quality and cost-effective medical solutions to the hospitals and laboratories of India. We are also confident to say that Mindray is all set to take the next leap in healthcare transformation in India by providing better healthcare for all. Innovation has been rooted in Mindray’s DNA since the company was founded 30 years ago. We shall be launching many more innovative technologies in the future in all the three verticals we cater to i.e. Patient Monitoring and Life Support, In-vitro Diagnosis, and Ultrasound Imaging Systems. In short, our endeavor will be to continuously develop new products and technologies at an affordable cost to serve mankind.
Not only technology and business, we also believe in educating medical professionals to update them with new technologies and developments in the medical sector. We have highly experienced medical professionals who conduct regular online and offline training for technicians and doctors.
We will continue to do hard work toward becoming the most trusted partner in building a healthier Bharat
While urban India is reasonably developed as far as medical facilities go; vast tracts remain deficient. What are some suggestions from you about how to go about rectification?
As we all know that there is a huge difference between the healthcare delivery at Urban and Rural areas usually expressed in terms of healthcare access and utilization, cost, and geographic distribution of providers and services. Despite progress in improving access to health care, inequalities by socioeconomic status and geography continue to persist.
Digital transformation in healthcare is the positive impact of technology in healthcare. Telemedicine, artificial intelligenceenabled medical devices, and electronic health records are just a few concrete examples of digital transformation in healthcare. The merger of Big Hospital with remote hospitals or day centers will increase with help of digitization. Complex surgery can be performed in any part of the country thereby boosting medical tourism in India.
Healthcare in rural areas can be improved by improving the Health Infrastructure and simultaneously using the presentday It-enabled technologies. These Hospitals should be strengthened by installing or integrating systems that permit web access, communication, data transfer and report sharing from a mobile device to keep patients happy as they can enjoy their mobile lives. It also grants physicians more flexibility than ever before, as they can check in on their smartphone, communicate with a patient, or go over a result within minutes from their mobile phone. There should be regular medical camps using sophisticated equipment and specialties for early detection of diseases and more importantly emphasis on hygiene.
To keep rural societies healthy, we need to focus on the provision of affordable and high-quality advanced care.
What are some significant innovations taking place in your respective field(s)? Which among these is the most exciting and why? How will it (or they, if more than one) impact your organization?
“Innovation & Digitization” has been the word for the industry after the pandemic has disrupted the regular working & forced companies to think out of the box in order to remain in the business. Only companies which accepted the Charles Darwin theory survived. Of all the industries that have been forever changed by the impacts of the global pandemic, healthcare arguably has changed the most with significant advances in technology and methods necessary to support the high demand of access to healthcare and growing digitization.
One of the rousing innovation is the use of AI in Healthcare. AI technologies are helping doctors overcome heuristic biases in tasks and improve decision making- A lot of clinical tasks are about spotting patterns, making predictions, weighing possible treatment options and balancing risks. Insights gathered from large data sets can help with all of these.
Expanding its artificial intelligence capabilities, Microsoft has tied up with Apollo Hospitals group to help doctors in the early detection of heart-related diseases. Both entities are working together to develop and deploy new machine learning models to predict patient risk for heart disease and assists doctors on treatment plans. AI Network for healthcare aims to democratize artificial intelligence by empowering healthcare providers with faster, intuitive and predictable solutions and reducing the disease burden. The systems of intelligence we create can change the lives of patients and the work of medical practitioners enabling accessible healthcare to all.
Prior to COVID-19, the
health-tech industry was primarily focused on developing wearable gadgets, diagnostics and medicine delivery solutions; facilitating early diagnosis of genetic conditions; treating lifestyle-linked problems like stress and anxiety through remote therapy as well as post-procedure pain alleviation. Post the pandemic, new opportunities are likely to emerge in the health-tech space, including development of tools for facilitating emergency care, and improvements to medical infrastructure through technology-based optimisation. For instance, the scope of wearable devices could be expanded to track health conditions. Patient-facing mobile health applications could also be developed, along with enabling greater integration of AI, robots, and block chain technologies e.g., surgical robots, sensors, remote diagnostics, electronic records and monitoring systems.
It is envisaged that the fundamental approach to medicine could change drastically in the years to come with the entire human biology getting represented as data and patterns. Doctors will increasingly be assisted by machine intelligence and eventually, a large number of cases could possibly be