Compiled by
Dr Usha Jain, Consultant : Laboratory Medicine, Medical Genetics & Genomic Science, Research Design & Analysis, Scientific Writer

Since the onset of Covid-19 pandemic, in a short span of time, the world has changed drastically; this pandemic has brought the in -vitro diagnostics (IVD) industry on the forefront for the first time. While Covid-19 has undoubtedly presented enormous challenges, it has, however, created several opportunities for instance, indicating a shift in focus from China to India as the prominent suppliers in IVD reagents and products. In line with this perspective, on the fifth day, a webinar on the theme “Making Innovation & Indigenization Stick: an IVD Industry Summit” was organized.

The meeting started with a welcome address of all the dignitaries & participants by Mr. D L Pandya Convenor & organizer, IMDI & Dr. Veena Kohli, President, Association of Diagnostics Manufacturers of India (ADMI) & CEO & Founder, Vanguard Diagnostics (P) Ltd. being the moderator, invited the key note speakers, Mr. Suresh Vazirani, Chairman and Managing Director, Transasia Biomedicals Ltd. & Dr. Jitender Sharma, Managing Director & CEO, Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone (AMTZ).

Key Note Address By
Mr. Suresh Vazirani
Chairman and Managing Director,
Transasia Biomedicals Limited.

Envisioning an Atma-Nirbhar IVD

Mr. Suresh Vazirani’s key note address entitled “Envisioning on Atma-Nirbhar IVD Industry” highlighted the importance of IVD for every country as diagnostics is the backbone of any healthcare system where 70 – 80% of the treatment decisions depend on outcome of diagnostic tests. Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, IVD has been in real focus. The Govt has to acknowledge the tremendous impact that IVD has made in managing the pandemic in the Indian context, placing India at the lowest mortality rate.

Starting from a few RT PCR to 2000 labs doing the Covid-19 diagnostic testing, where 80% of the kits are indigenous. Sharing his 41 years of journey in the IVD industry, when even basic tests kits were being imported. Even today India is importing 70% of its medical devices and less than even 2% is being spent on healthcare. In-spite of that, cost of diagnostics in India is the lowest in the world providing Covid-19 testing for about one US $. It’s unimaginable that in America its 20 US $.

The low cost of diagnostic kits is opening a door for the Indian manufactures to export. That’s why the Indian IVD industry is now more quality conscious in the terms of maintaining the global standards product quality. If it remains on the right track, sky is the limit for Indian IVD industry. Becoming Atma-Nirbhar is not a choice but a compulsion for the Indian IVD industry and it needs the support of the Govt of India to achieve its goal of becoming 50% self-reliant during the next five years. He addressed that IVD is the toughest industry to make money but it has a great advantage of great satisfaction by contributing towards the healthcare of your country and its citizens and it’s the greatest satisfaction that no money can give. His words that by doing so we are accumulating Good Karma too boosted the morale of all participants and were well reflected in discussion later with other panelists too.

Key Note Address By
Dr. Jitendra Sharma
Managing Director & CEO,
Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone (AMTZ)

Another key note speaker Dr. Jitender Sharma, also known as “MEDTECH man of India” addressed to make India Atma- Nirbhar, indigenization and Innovation has to go hand in hand. To achieve the same, firstly we need to reverse the flow to diagnostic first, doctor’s consultation next and medicine the last as presently diagnostics being the last causes delayed diagnosis & poor management of health. We can beat this by attaching a micro lab to a pharmacy carrying out some basic diagnostics. When there can be over the counter drugs, there could be over the counter diagnostics too. Secondly, allowing the integration of IVD into modern commodities and thirdly, arresting the free fall in prices in the interest of science and innovations can truly make India Atma-Nirbhar so far as the IVD is concerned.

Panel Discussion, Moderator
Ms. Veena Kohli
President, Association of Diagnostics Manufacturers of India (ADMI)
& CEO & Founder, Vanguard Diagnostics (P) Limited

Thereafter, the panel discussion began involving Mr. Sriram Natarajan, Founder Director & CEO, Molbio Diagnostics (P) Ltd; Dr. Rajesh Kumar Patel, Director, Premier Medical Corporation (P) Ltd.; Dr. Ravi Kumar Meruva, Founder & CEO, Sensa Core Medical Instrumentation (P) Ltd.; Mr. Sanjaymon KR, General Manager- Business Development, Agappe Diagnostics; Dr. Vishal Warke, Director R & D, Hi-Media Laboratoies (P) Ltd; Dr. Manoj Chugh, Associate Vice President R&D, Transasia Biomedicals Ltd & Dr. D K Joshi, IPP, ADMI & Managing Director, Beacon Diagnostics (P) Ltd., that goes as follows:

Mr. Sriram Natarajan
Founder Director & CEO,
Molbio Diagnostics (P) Limited.

Mr. Sriram threw light on how RT- PCR is a common household buzz word these days since the Covid- 19 has brought about a transformation in the perception of diagnostics for a common man today. He shared his strategies for tremendous success in the innovative sector of molecular biology in India being the main player in this industry for almost 40 years. He shared his mission and vision to take molecular diagnostics to the people in the remotest parts of India. To achieve this, his company had made tireless efforts for almost 20 years by innovating a technology that is truly point of care RT PCR especially for the infectious diseases where RT PCR is quick & the gold standard. Idea of centralized lab. can delay the reporting time & subsequently delay the treatment. Therefore, he envisioned RT PCR at primary health care centres, tier 2 & 3 cities. Due to this vision, today company is serving the nation by being a part of the National TB Control Programme. Taking high end technology to the point of care is going to take them to the remotest areas of the other countries too. He shared his utmost satisfaction on this innovation by saying “Whatever was envisioned is now taking shape”. He was indeed applauded for his tremendous efforts & dedication towards the democratization of molecular testing through setting up of TRUENAT at primary health care centres for various infectious diseases including the Covid-19 in remotest areas of India.

In answer to another question on the major difference between RT PCR and the LAMP technology from IVD manufactures’ perspective in context of the pandemic scenario, he highlighted that though both RT PCR & RT LAMP based diagnostics are based on the amplification of DNA.

RT PCR requires a thermal cycler and other sophisticated accessories, while LAMP is isothermal where reaction is being carried out in a single tube on a simple thermal block maintaining 60 – 65 degrees. Thus, it requires no sophisticated instrumentation, set up & skilled manpower. He stressed that RT PCR is still the Gold Standard and as it has evolved for over the last 40 years while the LAMP assay has been in limelight for the last 4-5 years. Fundamentally both RT PCR and LAMP are useful in to the IVD industry but we have to keep in mind the end product and the end user.