Dehradun, Sept 14 (JKNS): Dehradun! Medical technology should not be developed merely for technological advancement; its ultimate objective must be to improve patient care, outcomes and the quality of healthcare, said Prof. Dr. Bhupendra Kumar Singh Sanjay, President, AIIMS Guwahati, while addressing a MedTech Workshop organised by AIIMS Guwahati in collaboration with the National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS), India, with Vaidyarx as the Knowledge Partner.
Prof. Dr. Sanjay emphasised that every technological innovation in healthcare should ultimately answer one fundamental question: How does it benefit the patient? He said that medical technology has significantly improved diagnosis, treatment, monitoring, surgical care and healthcare delivery. However, future innovations must remain patient-centric.
“Technology should be affordable, accessible and meaningful to society. Its real value lies in its ability to improve the lives of patients and strengthen the quality of healthcare,” he said.
He stressed the need for strong collaboration among all stakeholders, including doctors, scientists, engineers, academic institutions, hospitals, industry, startups, entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers. Meaningful innovation, he said, can emerge only when clinical requirements and technological expertise work together.
Prof. Dr. Sanjay particularly highlighted the importance of startups and entrepreneurship in MedTech, saying that young innovators require clinical mentorship, research support, incubation, funding and opportunities for validation and implementation. Doctors should be closely involved in developing medical technologies so that innovations address genuine clinical needs.
The workshop brought together eminent experts and leaders from healthcare, biotechnology, MedTech, research and entrepreneurship. Distinguished participants included Prof. Ashok Puranik, Executive Director, AIIMS Guwahati; Prof. Y. K. Gupta, President, AIIMS Kalyani; Prof. Digambar Behera, President, National Academy of Medical Sciences; Dr. Jitendra Sharma, Director & CEO, Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone (AMTZ); Dr. Dhananjay Tiwary, Managing Director, Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC); Dr. Renu Swarup, former Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science & Technology; Dr. Shirshendu Mukherjee, Managing Director, Wadhwani Foundation; Dr. Ravi Gaur, Founder & Director, DRG Diagnostic Centre; Dr. Shailendra Saraf, Director, NIPER Hyderabad & NIPER Ahmedabad; Dr. Satya Prakash Dash, CEO, IKP Knowledge Park; and Prof. Satyajit Mohapatra, Organising Secretary and Head, Department of Pharmacology, AIIMS Guwahati.
Prof. Dr. Sanjay concluded that technology is a means, not the end. The ultimate measure of medical innovation is its ability to deliver better, affordable and accessible healthcare and improve the quality of life of patients. (JKNS)
