New Delhi: Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeiteiThe Indian government has developed two healthcare technologies to reduce dependence on imports, according to an official statement issued on Monday.

Both health care devices i.e. 1.5 Tesla MRI Scanner and 6 MEV Linear Accelerator Developed in partnership with the Society for Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering and Research (Sameer) as the implementing agency, in collaboration with the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Trivandrum and Kolkata, Inter University Accelerator Centre (IUAC) and Dayananda Sagar Institute (DSI).

The 1.5 Tesla MRI scanner is a non-invasive medical imaging test used to look at soft tissues, while the Linear Accelerator (LINAC) is used for cancer treatment using high-energy X-rays or electrons. Both projects have received financial support from MeitY, so that India can move towards import substitution.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has funded these projects to boost domestic technology capabilities in healthcare, the statement said.

The ministry further said, “To ensure that these technologies are accessible and affordable to the public, it is of utmost importance to rapidly translate research into practical applications, accelerate their development and deployment, and reap full benefits of indigenous health technologies for the benefit of the people.”

The ministry emphasised the importance of industry participation. The statement said that early engagement between the government and industry can identify synergies, increase efficiency and lead to effective collaboration.

SAMEER has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) for Technology Transfer (ToT) for MRI and LINAC with B-MEC Imaging Pvt. Ltd., Medirez Imaging Pvt. Ltd., Adonis Medical Systems Pvt. Ltd., INOXCVA INOX India Ltd. and Paras Defence and Technologies Ltd., among other companies.

Speaking on the occasion, Secretary, Electronics and Information Technology highlighted the importance of critical Medical technologies and discussed the device, its ever-growing scope, challenges as well as opportunities it presents for Indian manufacturers. He informed that the participation of industry is encouraging and it reflects the continuous efforts of MeitY in developing indigenous technologies.