Sujesh is an erudite with a strong academic background. He graduated in Commerce and has been an IT Professional with extensive experience in Artificial Intelligence & coding. Influenced by the thoughts of top leaders such as Steve Jobs, Sir David Frederick Attenborough, author Ayn Rand, Sujesh has been an articulate professional who is currently pursuing his entrepreneurial journey, shuttling between India and the Middle East. Sujesh likes to stay at the top of the latest tech trends and likes to keep himself apprised of all the major developments taking place in the world of science.
The pandemic has caused major disruptions in our healthcare system and the second wave is spreading like wildfire. Hundreds and thousands of cases are being tested positive on a daily basis and the majority of the population is suffering in the absence of appropriate treatment, oxygen, and medical services.
Innovations and technological development to tackle the rising COVID cases in India
Indeed the situation is worsening but it is no hidden fact that the pandemic also paved the way for the introduction and adoption of various innovations in the healthcare and health tech sector. New products and services have been entering the market that we never thought would exist or would be a part of our lifestyle anytime soon!
India has always been known for the possession of well-equipped pharmacy in the world. Medical devices and equipment have played an important role in the growth of the Indian pharma market and the stature has gained all the more prominence in the present times.
As per IBEF, the Indian medical devices market was valued at $11 billion in 2020 and is expected to increase at a CAGR of 35.4% from 2020 to 2025 and might reach the $50 billion mark by the end of 2025. It further states that India is now considered amongst the top 20 markets for medical devices in the world and is the 4th largest in Asia.
These statistics show that the demand for medical devices will increase in the times ahead. However, taking into consideration the present situation, there is a huge demand-supply gap. But the silver lining is that the soaring demand for superior healthcare services is also carving the path for increased local device and equipment manufacturing and organizations along with the government and investors have been focusing on the same.
Owing to the present distressed situation, the healthcare sector and medical devices have primarily been the go-to resort for mass revival from this health crisis. It is indeed clear that there is a dire need to improve the medical industry, health infrastructure, and medical devices sector so as to meet the surging demand for the latest health tech innovations. This is the reason why various institutions, research firms, and medical technology developers have dedicated themselves to bring about plausible solutions to attempt and fight the virus.
Be it blood-based rapid diagnostics tests or RT-PCR-based methods that detect the presence of the virus in the body, an array of screening and diagnostics tests have been introduced during the pandemic. It is due to these technological innovations that we have been able to successfully detect the virus and undergo prompt treatments.
While the Indian Council of Medical Research authorized labs to use RT-PCR as the go-to strategy for detection of the genetics of the virus, Mylab Discovery Solutions, Pune was the brain behind the introduction of the country’s first indigenous RT-PCR based molecular diagnostic test that helps detect the infection in 2.5 hours as compared to 7-8 hours by traditional testing methods along with eliminating the possibilities of false positives. Apart from these, blood-based antibody detection methods have also been developed to meet the rising demand for coronavirus testing and sampling.
Besides the diagnostics innovations, the need for effective personal and sanitization equipment has also witnessed a surge to ensure the safety of the people across the nation and at the global level. Leveraging the power of science and expert talent, various medical firms are making concerted efforts to invest their time and finances in conducting in-depth research and developing state-of-the-art health tech solutions.
A prominent example of this includes tech-woven patented protective masks and helmets. Be it surgical masks, N95, or double-layered masks, all of these have been working well in the market owing to their health benefits and increased preference. Additionally, the demand for protective shields, overalls, gloves, PPE kits, has also risen due to the surging safety concerns and awareness levels amongst the population.
However, one of the feasible solutions to fight the pandemic has been the provision of safe air. Tech-savvy devices like air purifiers and air masks produced via the latest technology and claiming to offer ambient air sterilization, ion-based sanitization, and considerable neutralization of the virus are the recent entrants in the market. Their demand is at an all time high and they will be increasingly preferred owing to their claims of eliminating the SARS Cov2 virus and extending various health benefits. These products claim to offer respite from the virus, do not harm the environment, ensure hygienic air provision and adhere to all the government protocols and regulations. These features make them the ideal, viable and reliable solution to ensure protection from the coronavirus.
Challenges faced during managing the rising COVID cases in India
The fact that India was able to come up with a vaccine in just a few months of the virus hitting us and its provision to the middle-aged and elderly population is the testimony of the fact that our nation possesses the capacity and capability to invest wholeheartedly in the resolution of the crisis via the assistance and support of the healthcare industry especially the pharmaceutical and the medical device sector.
However, it won’t be wrong to state that the path of revival is tough and there are various roadblocks. India is unfortunately not well equipped to handle the unprecedented rise in the COVID cases. Indeed there is a lack of funds and the absence of advanced healthcare facilities and infrastructure. The mismanagement and dysfunctionality of the sector, along with the acute shortage of healthcare products and services do not match the rising need and seem to be the major challenges faced during managing the rising COVID cases in India. Additionally, despite our nation being considered as the world’s largest vaccine producer, the increasing number of cases puts India’s position as the global exporter at a huge risk.
Summing Up
IoT, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data analytics have forayed into the healthcare segment and have further accelerated the development of tech-savvy medical solutions. These products not only extend high-end hygienic healthcare services but also ensure sustainability and ecological balancing of the environment.
Introducing product innovations is no longer an option and has rather become the need of the hour. The healthcare, health tech, and medical devices sector have realized the severity of the situation and hence have dedicated themselves towards the recovery of the nation from the global pandemic crisis. It is anticipated that the domestic manufacturing of medical and personal hygiene devices and equipment and upscalation of the healthcare industry will increase significantly in the coming times and will contribute majorly in the global revival from this crisis.