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Kerala Wants Research To Set The Stage
For Affordable Medical Devices
The state government is working on a plan to convert research
papers emerging from universities and other institutions into useful and
affordable medical products and devices for the general public.
KOCHI: The state government is working on a plan to convert research papers
emerging from universities and other institutions into useful and affordable
medical products and devices for the general public.
‘Knowledge translation’, the idea of converting knowledge into useful products,
will help in the manufacture of cutting-edge medical devices such as dental
implants, orthopaedic implants, blood bags, etc, in the state, top officials
told TNIE, adding that the government will coordinate with various departments
to achieve its goal.
The entire initiative is being coordinated by the Thiruvananthapuram-based
Kerala Medical Technology
Consortium (KMTC), an initiative of the state government to accelerate
medical-device manufacturing and technology by fostering an ecosystem of
knowledge-sharing between research organisations, academic, industrial, and
healthcare institutions, and the government.
The project aims to come up with medical products that are either used for
diagnosis or treatment or that are helpful for people with disabilities, said C
Padmakumar, special officer of KMTC. “The usefulness of knowledge is only
realised when it is converted into a product. Even now, we import 75% of
products and medical devices, which are costly. If we translate the knowledge
generated in universities into commercially usable products, more people will
benefit from it,”
KMTC has taken the proposal forward by unifying the departments of health,
medical education, higher education, industries, and other agencies. Dr
Harikrishna Varma, head of biomedical technology at Sree Chitra Tirunal
Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, said a link
between various departments is essential in producing such devices.
“Research and findings should not end up in labs. It should reach the people.
And the cooperation of industries is important in translating knowledge into
useful medical devices. KMTC holds regular meetings with various stakeholders,”
said Dr Harikrishna. The industries department will support the manufacturing of
products and medical devices, said Padmakumar. “Kerala has more than 25
companies that produce high-quality products and services in the medical field.
We will collaborate with these companies,” he said.
These products do not include high-end drugs, which require huge funds and
extensive research, something that only multi -billion-dollar pharmaceutical
companies can hope to conjure up. He said research conducted in universities and
laboratories, and problem statements from hospitals will be the source of data.
“The health and medical education departments are working through agencies,
including multidisciplinary units in medical colleges.
We also bring together research institutions, medical colleges and industries.
When all of them collaborate, we get a final product,” said Padmakumar. Dr
Harikrishna said the benefits of the initiative would reach the general public
only if it is supported by the government. “This is a good initiative. As it is
a government initiative, everybody will benefit,” he added.
https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2023/jul/17/kerala-wants-research-to-set-the-stage-for-affordable-medicaldevices-2595600.html
; 17th July 2023
ICMR Issues List Of Technologies
Supported Under ICMR- MDMS To Foster Indigenous Manufacturing Of Medical Devices
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has issued list
of technologies supported under ICMR-Medical Device and Diagnostics Mission (MDMS)
Secretariat to foster indigenous manufacturing of medical devices and
diagnostics.
This will be implemented through different schemes which will strengthen the
healthcare system in line with the ‘Make-in-India’ initiative of the Government
of India (GoI).
“Such ICMR supported technologies having potential public health impact have
reached a stage wherein they need support for validation by conducting
pre-clinical and/or clinical studies as listed below,” according to an ICMR
official.
Orthopaedic screw for National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly (NPHCE),
Novel 3D Printed Metallic Lattices for Sustained in-situ Delivery of Drugs for
National Cancer Control Programme, Drug Eluting Scaffold for National Programme
for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and
stroke (NPCDCS), Microneedle based painless vaccine delivery device (solid
needles), Microneedle based painless vaccine delivery device (hollow needles),
and left ventricular assist device (LVAD) for National Programme on Prevention
and Control of Diabetes, CVD and Stroke are some of the devices in the list.
Other technologies include i-scope: Automated Microscopy for Cervical Cancer
Diagnosis (pap smear), smartphone based fluorescence spectroscopic device for
cervical cancer detection, reusable and adjustable biopsy gun, flexible
laparoscopy surgery instrument, cancer prosthetic bone graft and genie-HPVmolecular
assay for National Cancer Control Programme.
Other more relevant technologies include screening device for pre-eclampsia,
hearing screening device, nLite360 - World's 1st intelligent phototherapy device
which provides a customized treatment to the dynamic jaundice conditions,
Nemocare Raksha-an IoT enabled system that comprises of a medical grade wearable
ICMR backed by AI engine that can remotely and continuously monitor new-borns
for distress detection and management for maternal and child health, RF ablation
device for PCOS, non-invasive PoC diagnostics fo neurological conditions like
epilepsy for National Mental Health Programme, portable and affordable
smartphone based ophthalmic screening device for National Programme for Control
of Blindnes, ocular drug delivery device, total elbow prosthesis and DiaPatch
with ActiFlush technology: The world's first smart flushable diaper for National
Programme for Health Care of the Elderly (NPHCE), WoUnder- Patch (diabetic
patch) and Artsens-Image Free Ultrasound For Vascular Ageing and Screening for
National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes,
Cardiovascular Diseases and stroke, developing affordable and AI-enabled
handheld x-ray device for tuberculosis and development of point of care nucleic
test for detection of viral load in real time for Diagnosis National TB Control
Programme, portable point-of-care device for albumin/direct bilirubin/total
bilirubin detection/total protein in serum for liver/kidney disorders for
non-communicable diseases; National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly (NPHCE)
on-communicable diseases; National Programme for Prevention and Control of
Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke.
http://www.pharmabiz.com/NewsDetails.aspx?aid=160144&sid=1; July 7, 2023
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