New Delhi 8th September 2020: Indian Council of Medical Research [ICMR], the apex body at forefront of formulating COVID-19 testing strategy in India has crossed 5 crores testing mark on 7^th September 2020. With average testing of more than 10 lakhs per day, India has tested 5,06,50,128 samples across the country till 7^th September 2020. The last one crores sample testing was achieved in only 10 days.

Rapidly increasing testing samples was made possible as daily testing average had been on a continuous rise from around 7 lakh tests being conducted per day in the 3rd week of August to more than 10 lakh tests per day in the 1st week of September. Which was achieved because of ramped up COVID-19 specific diagnostic labs across India with active support of Central and State/UT governments.

ICMR has effectively responded to the evolving epidemic through focused and collaborative efforts of the Centre, State/UT government. Recently India achieved milestone of conducting 10 lakhs tests per day. These milestones are testimony to the fact that India has been successful in implementing Testing, Tracking & Treating strategy efficiently, which will enable us to contain the pandemic.

ICMR has been responding to the situation by regularly revising its strategy for testing. In its latest advisory on COVID-19 testing strategy ‘Testing on Demand’ for individuals has been allowed. The State/UT governments can simplify the modalities to facilitate testing on demand.

The existing recommendations related to testing for COVID-19 have been extended, elaborated and divided into four parts – routine surveillance in containment zones and screening at points of entry, routine surveillance in non-containment areas, hospital settings and testing on demand – and choice of test (RT-PCR, TrueNat or CBNAAT and rapid antigen tests) in order of the priority.

India has been ramping up the testing facility across the country. The total number Covid-19 specific testing laboratories count has reach 1668. Of which dedicated government laboratories are 1035 and private laboratories number stands at 633.

 For more information, please visit https://www.icmr.gov.in/

The post COVID test – India crosses 5 crores sample testing. appeared first on Health Vision.

The first digital session of Medical Device Innovation Summit concludes on a positive note with industry leaders addressing burning topics to promote innovation in the medical equipment industry. From challenges like lack of regulatory systems to its new found potential of manufacturing indigenous products on a large scale, the summit successfully addressed discussions on new growth opportunities for the overall development of the sector.

The current pandemic situation has converged the entire medical industry and academia in a never seen before momentum. It has led to mass production of innovative medical products along with awareness of diagnosis and diagnostic tests that will help improve the quality of health in the future. From conducting 1,000 tests per day to 9 lakh tests per day to detect symptoms of COVID-19, India has showcased immense potential to become the global producer and supplier for quality indigenous medical equipment and technologies.

India’s take on digital transformation in the medical industry

The current situation has brought in an open mindedness to the Indian medical system where everyone is latching on to the digital evolution and healthcare facilities. Homecare, tele-care and tele-medicines are a few expansions that hospitals will provide in increasing numbers in the future.

Dr Jitendar Sharma, Managing Director & CEO, Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone Limited (AMTZ) emphasises on the need for innovation in the therapeutic/treatment segment. He says: “We are fairly good and independent in the diagnostic segment. But on the therapeutic side, robotic surgery, gama knife and linear accelerator are the only kind of major new products currently available on a global level in last five to eight years. This is where Indian entrepreneurship and science can come into picture. To do so, we need a Phased Manufacturing Program (PMP) with calibrated customs duty structure. We must also invest in shareable infrastructure that is technology oriented such as done at AMTZ for benefit of medical device industry.”

Outlook on non-COVID (IVD) test industry for 2020

The de-growth in the IVD industry may sound alarming but the sharp surge in COVID test and large production of indigenous products will more than make up for the loss this year. Other important topics discussed during the session were the future of healthcare in India, impact on supply chains, manufactures and hospitals during the lockdown, need for a regulatory system for medical equipment industry and choosing quality over price competency to ensure ethical products and technologies in the medical field. The in vitro diagnostics (IVD) is recorded to mark a year on year growth of 30% in 2020 which will be double the market rate in average 10 years.

Explaining the statistic in detail, Ms Veena Kohli, CEO, Vanguard Diagnostics & President, ADMI – Association of Diagnostics Manufacturers of India (ADMI) shared: “The Indian In-Vitro Diagnostics (IVD) industry is expected to record a year on year growth of 30% in the year 2020. This will be double the rate at which the industry has been growing in the past decade. The size of IVD industry in the year 2019 was INR 7500 Crore which was slated to grow at a CAGR of about 15% before the COVID crisis. COVID related products have already added INR 3400 Crore to the market size during the first half of the year and by the end of the year, this figure is expected to touch an estimated amount of INR 7300 Crore. Even if the size of non-COVID routine diagnostics products plummet to one third its original value, a base value of 2500 Crore will still remain, taking the total industry size to a value of INR 9800 Crore.”

India’s first ever webinar for the medical device industry :

Scheduled on 29 August 2020, Messe Frankfurt India’s first ever webinar for the medical device industry saw prominent names from the industry as speakers like:

• Mr Vijay Kumar, Head of Strategic Marketing & Innovation, Roche Diagnostics India, Neighbouring Markets
• Ms Veena Kohli, CEO, Vanguard Diagnostics & President, ADMI – Association of Diagnostics Manufacturers of India (ADMI)
• Dr Uma Nambiar, Executive Director, Gimcare Hospital and Chairperson, Digital Health India Association (DHIA);
• Mr Vijay Simha, CEO, Audicor Cardiometrics & Advisory Member-Health Start-up Committee, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry( FICCI)
• Dr Jitendar Sharma, Managing Director & CEO, Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone Limited (AMTZ)

Moderating this highly insightful live webinar was Mr Rajiv Nath, Forum Coordinator, Association of Indian Medical Device Industry (AIMED) & Managing Director, Hindustan Syringes & Medical Device Ltd. The summit received strong support from Association of Indian Medical Device Industry (AIMED), Association of Diagnostics Manufacturers of India (ADMI), Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone Limited (AMTZ), and Digital Health India Association (DHAI).

Messe Frankfurt India plans to launch Medical Device Innovation Summit as a large-format Conference and Exhibition in 2021. For more details,

Linnet Devdas
Tel. 022 6144 5414
Linnet.devdas@india.messefrankfurt.com
www.in.messefrankfurt.com

The post India poised to be a manufacturing hub for medical device and equipments? appeared first on Health Vision.

The Delhi Government’s order of not allowing COVID test of asymptomatic patient or pre-symptomatic patients in Delhi is wrong . As per the study on COVID-19 between 5% and 80%  of people testing positive for COVID-19 may be asymptomatic and mostly asymptomatic cases and pre-symptomatic cases and mild/very mild symptoms cases will increase exponentially.

By not allowing the asymptomatic patients and pre-symptomatic patients to undertake COVID-19 testing, it means the asymptomatic patient and pre-symptomatic patients will not get proper treatment and soon all asymptomatic patients and pre-symptomatic patients will become symptomatic patients.

As “silent spreaders”, asymptomatic carriers warrant attention as part of disease prevention and control. The testing and follow-up of asymptomatic carriers should be expanded to include people in close contact with patients with confirmed COVID-19 and asymptomatic cases, clusters of outbreaks, and key areas and populations with a high risk of infection.

The Hon’ble Chief Justice of Delhi High Court has issued notice against the Delhi Government’s order of not allowing COVID test of asymptomatic patient or pre-symptomatic patient in Delhi.  ( The PIL was filed by Dr. KK Aggarwal, Padma Shree Awardee and President of Heart Care Foundation of India – HCFI). Delhi government has been asked to give its report before next date of hearing i.e. 22^nd June 2020.

The right to health is a fundamental right of the citizens and it not simply the right not to be unwell, but rather the right to be well. the right to health includes healthcare which is accessible and available for the public at large. Healthcare access is the ability to obtain healthcare services such as prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and management of diseases, illness, disorders, and other health impacting conditions.

To prevent the spread of disease is the obligation or duty of the State under Article 47 of the Constitution of India. The disease being asymptomatic also, the timely care attains significance and in such a situation to wait for the symptoms of the disease to be manifested, would amount to a failure to discharge the constitutional obligation under Article 47 of the Constitution of India.

Dr. KK Aggarwal- Padma Shree Awardee 

President of Heart Care Foundation of India – HCFI

The post Covid test is necessary for asymptomatic patients appeared first on Health Vision.