Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited start-up ideas for medical devices that would be innovative and cheaper in order to address the issues concerning the healthcare sector.
In an address to mark 75 years of cancer treatment by Tata Memorial Hospital, Modi invited start-ups to focus on research for innovative medical devices and use technology to make healthcare more affordable.
”India should manufacture its own medical devices to bring down the cost. Recently, the government reduced cost of stents by 85 per cent,” Modi said.
”The International Agency for Research on Cancer says in the next 30 years the number of cancer cases will double. It is necessary to bring all hospitals on one platform to treat cancer patients through latest technology.”
Addressing oncologists at Tata Memorial Hospital through a live video conference in Delhi, the Prime Minister said a new National Cancer Institute will be set up in Haryana.
Dr Rajan Badwe, Director of Tata Memorial Centre, said that the hospital will focus on research in cancer and more affordable treatment options.
Modi said at least a million new cancer cases are diagnosed in India every year, of which 6.5 lakh patients die. With the high cost of cancer treatment, the government is keen on technological progress to evolve cheaper methods of treatment.
He said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is planning to start four cancer hospitals in Chandigarh, Guwahati, Varanasi and Visakhapatnam.
”We are trying to bring cancer care within the reach of poor patients. The Digital Nerve Centre is an initiative in that direction,” the PM said.
The nerve centre connects four cancer hospitals in India and helps doctors discuss complex cases via video conferencing. Plans are under way to start the digital nerve centre in 108 cancer hospitals under the National Cancer Grid. The move will save patients, especially from Northeast and Bengal, the long trip to Mumbai to seek expert opinion.
”Under the National Health Policy we are addressing several diseases. Our government wants a holistic approach,” Modi said, hinting towards greater involvement of Ayush and homeopathy in healthcare system in conditions where Ayurveda or yoga can be used to treat side-effects caused by allopathic drugs.
On May 25, the hospital put up its coffee table books for sale at Rs 4,000. The book states how Dorabji Tata decided to start the hospital in 1931, after his wife Meherbai Tata told him there is need for lakhs of Indian patients to get affordable cancer care.
Ratan Tata, in his welcome address, thanked the Prime Minister for his support, cooperation and vision towards affordable healthcare and cancer research.
Source: domain
