IIT Kharagpur is set to establish a research and technology development hub to make healthcare more affordable in the country. The primary aim of IIT Kharagpur is to tap the potential of MSMEs in the healthcare sector The research and technology development hub at the institute will address some of the important challenges faced by the healthcare sector like accessibility and affordability challenging the modern healthcare system.
Other key areas of focus will be the development of innovative technologies through MSMEs that will reduce the burden of imported healthcare technologies in India.
Satadal Saha, IIT-KGP, Professor, School of Medical Science and Technology, informed that one of the major challenges in rural India is the availability of quality healthcare. Around 80% of health care technology is being imported which increases the costs. Apart from this, most of the leading healthcare units are present in urban areas which lead to accessibility issues.
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According to him, with the development and innovation in healthcare technologies, there will be a rise in the manufacturing sector as well which will ultimately create more jobs in the suburbs.
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Suman Chakraborty, Associate Dean, Sponsored Research and Industrial Consultancy IIT KGP will tap MSMEs to manufacture high equality products in the healthcare sector so that India does not have to import the same. This will also make healthcare more accessible and affordable especially in the rural parts of India.