To become Healthy and Happy, India has to first become ATMANIRBHAR in medical devices

The learnings in the year of pandemic have been our teacher, and have taught us to be resilient and committed to adopting new technologies for innovative and affordable diagnostic solutions for our fellow Indians.

Diagnostics remains crucial to early disease detection and prevention
As per a WHO study, over 70 percent of treatment decisions depend on diagnostics. More than ever before, the pandemic has proven that diagnostics remains crucial for healthcare and holds the key to disease prevention.

We are fortunate to build from a position of strength. For over four decades, we have been leading the Indian IVD industry and are trusted for reliable and affordable Made in India solutions by over 40,000 labs in India.

Yet, there is much more still to be done. The domestic diagnostic industry is estimated at USD 9 billion (around ₹675 billion) and is expected to grow at a CAGR of ~10 percent over the next 5 years. Only about 30 percent Indians have ever got their blood tested. There are over 800 million Indians who do not know if they have any disease.

Sustaining innovation with manufacturing in India
The pandemic has led to accelerated innovations that hold the key to the future well-being. And innovation needs to be substantiated with manufacturing in India, to meet the needs of our 1.3 billion population.

Going forward, there will be a need for Indian manufacturers to scale production. The setting up of our world-class manufacturing facility at AMTZ, Vishakhapatnam, is our answer to this foresight. In 2021, we intend to start full-scale production with 200 mn tests per day for COVID-19 and other infectious diseases to benefit millions of people. In the future, this facility will serve as the global hub for all tests such as TB, malaria, HIV, hepatitis etc.

Advancing our mission of providing innovative, reliable and affordable diagnostics
Between now and 2022, our R&D labs in France, UK, USA, Austria, and India, will launch over 10 diagnostic systems in CLIA, molecular, high-end hematology, Artificial Intelligence, LIS, etc. Also in the offing is a Total Lab Automation solution for mid and large size laboratories. All these will make Erba-Transasia among the top five companies globally to have Total Solutions in Laboratory Diagnostics.

Harnessing the power of technology
Diagnostics technology is moving fast in the direction of full automation with latest developments in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML). From accurate solutions to technological interventions, our R&D teams are working on developing simpler ways for blood analysis. While technology will continue to make in-roads, affordability, and accessibility needs to take centre-stage.

Transasia continues to expand availability of its Developed in India and Made in India instruments. In 2021 we plan to expand to over 130 countries.

Seeking government support for affordable and accessible diagnostic solutions
Presently, over 70 percent medical devices are imported.This large dependence on imports makes healthcare unaffordable for 80 percent of India’s population. For affordable healthcare, only option is to Make in India. Medical devices industry in India, cannot grow without a strong government support for atleast next 5-10 years. Once established, it can be a global hub for developing countries. I hope that having witnessed the need for affordable diagnostics during current pandemic, a major focus in the Union Budget 2021 will be to boost Make in India diagnostic industry, as it is the starting point to a healthy and happy India.