Use of technology in cost-effective manner key to success of health innovations, says Dr Randeep Guleria Courtesy TOI 16.02.2023

  

 Use of technology in cost-effective manner key to success of health innovations, says Dr Randeep Guleria

 NEW DELHI: “The key mantra to innovations in health is to use technology in an innovative manner and develop cost-effective strategies. India is an epicentre for varied innovations and this has been proved beyond doubt during the pandemic with world-class vaccinations and healthcare applications being developed here,” said Dr Randeep Guleria, president of AIIMS Bilaspur and chairman of Institute of Internal Medicine, Respiratory & Sleep Medicine.

Dr Guleria, while delivering the keynote lecture on Sustainable Medical Technologies: Current & Future Needs at Bennett University on Wednesday, said, “The key is to get more from less and we can achieve this by innovations through cost-effective technologies.” India has some of the brightest minds and can achieve this easily, he added.
In rural India, where healthcare is sometimes unaffordable, jugaadu techniques are used as a saviour, like a drip being hung from a wall, he pointed out. “Thus, sustainability, when applied to medical technology, should be applicable, acceptable, affordable, accessible to all and energy-efficient.” Dr Guleria advocated the importance of “One Health, which is a collaborative effort of multiple disciplines working locally, nationally and globally, to attain optimal health for biodiversity, including humans, animals and environment”. He further emphasised the importance of looking at healthcare in holistic terms to prevent outbreaks.
There’s a lot of room for further development of artificial intelligence (AI) usage in medical technology and it can be used to perform routine tasks, manage medication and data, design treatments and monitor health, he said, adding that this might be the beginning of a new horizon.

The field of medicine, Dr Guleria said, is changing rapidly due to advancement in science and technology. “Sometimes we feel that we can’t project how medicine will be 10 years from now because technology will come in a big way,” he said, adding medical humanity is also important.
New rules will transform healthcare, he said. “Speed and extent of adoption, along with the cost, is important and all depend on the quality of governance, incentives and opportunities created. Hence, we have to develop an ecosystem that helps in developing these technologies and the people who want to take this in the right direction.”
The event was organised by Bennett University’s biotechnology department as part of the National Science Day celebrations themed on “Global Science for Global Wellbeing” for 2023 by the Union science & technology ministry. It coincided with India’s assumption of the presidency of G20, where it is likely to become the voice of the Global South with the goal towards synergised efforts in achieving universal health from sustainable collaborations among government, industry, academia and experts.