New Delhi: In its bid to strengthen medical infrastructure with technology intervention and making better healthcare to all at affordable rates, the Central government has embarked on the mission to encourage public hospitals develop incubation centres. This initiative is aimed at set up collaboration startups and entrepreneurs with doctors to link technology with public health.
The government has invited students from the Indian Institute of Technology (IITs) and helping them to connect with the hospitals under the project. Currently, only the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, is offering platform to the startups to develop better model of health care with technological intervention. However, Government Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS), Greater Noida, will be the next government hospital to develop incubation centres for the startups. “Work is going on the develop a dedicated Centre for Medical Innovation (CMI) to support medical-technical startups,” said a senior officer of the Union ministry of health and family welfare.
Also Read: Max Healthcare acquires Starlit Medical Centre, Sahara Hospital
The Uttar Pradesh government has taken up the drive to introduce budding entrepreneurs to the startup ecosystem at CMI-GIMS. The incubator was established to foster innovation in health care.
“To begin with, we are targetting government hospitals to develop them as the incubation centres, as they are rich data base of various types of patients. And this is why we are offering a platform where any start-up entrepreneur can come, use the database for studies and better understanding of health issues and develop the devices or applications in the most accurate way,” said Rahul Singh, in-charge of CMI, adding that objective behind the initiative was to encourage medical innovation and bridge the gap and connect the technology with public health.
Also Read: Bihar Govt approves new medical college & hospital in Supaul
Explaining further, Singh said: “This is going to benefit so many people. For example, a professor at IIT Mandi has come up with the concept of portable light weight baby incubators considering logistical issues in the hilly region. So at our institute, we further guided him on how to make the product more accurate and helpful.”
The department of science and technology has set up a committee to host Prayas Centres (PCs) by ten science and technology entrepreneur parks or incubators each year, under Nidhi Prayas Yojna. Every PC will receive financial support for a period of five years. PCs will facilitate the development of creative ideas into working prototypes by offering funding for the prototype, physical space, lab infrastructure, technical advice, and business mentoring.
