Last week, the news came out that India has developed its first indigenous MRI machine, set to be installed at AIIMS Delhi by October for trials. If trail goes well, it will lower the cost of MRI scans in India for patients by around 50%. Developments like these are crucial to make health services accessible to all.
Is Make in India a solution to healthcare disparity?
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Yes, Make in India can help reduce healthcare disparity by lowering costs, improving accessibility, and boosting local innovation. Indigenous production of medical devices, like the MRI machine, reduces dependence on imports, making advanced healthcare more affordable for all.
“Make in India” can reduce costs, but true healthcare equity needs better hospitals, affordable medicines, and skilled doctors everywhere.
“Make in India” has the potential to significantly reduce healthcare disparities, but it will require comprehensive, coordinated efforts in infrastructure, policy, and training to fully achieve its promise.
All these are good measures. But an accountability in the system is also required. For example, at AIIMS Delhi, wait time for surgeries is 2.5 to 34 months. There is shortage of doctors and academic staff, while AIIMS could spend only 82 % of its allocated budget as per a news in media.
