The Modi government is taking a step further to ensure affordable healthcare and diagnostic access for all with an MoU signed between SAMEER, India’s premier R&D Institute of Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) and Siemens Healthineers. The MoU will be focused towards making available low-cost MRIs.
MRI tests are usually costly. In India the price ranges between Rs 1500 to thousands of Rupees depending on the body part being scanned and the city location. The average cost at multispecialty hospitals is around Rs 6000. Usually the overhead cost of setting up the MRI equipment is huge and that is why these diagnostic tests run up such high bills.
Read More: Economic Survey 2022-23: When Will It Be Presented? Know Where To Watch Live Streaming
In an effort to bring down the cost of MRIs and make it accessible to the common man, the government has forged this partnership keeping its larger affordable healthcare goal in mind.
SAMEER, which is the acronym for Society for Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering & Research, specialises in RF Microwaves Radar and Communication Systems, E3 testing and Medical Electronics a strategic partnership. SAMEER has been pursuing R&D in the advanced Linear accelerators for Cancer Therapy and Magnetic Resonance Imaging systems for diagnostics, a fully funded research program by MeitY, Govt of India. Currently, SAMEER is developing IMRI (Indigenous Magnetic Resonance Imaging) Technology under the Sushrut MRI (Indian MRI) system.
Read More: How to apply for Kisan Credit Card – Check eligibility, interest rate, limit, documents
Minister of State for Electronics & Information Technology and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, said that the tie up will make available low-cost MRIs as part of the Prime Minister’s vision of providing quality, and affordable healthcare and diagnostic access for every Indian. The minister said that the government is also looking to partner with global companies that are willing to set up manufacturing bases in India. “We are also supportive of R&D model based on co-development between Global companies and India’s vast network of academic institutions,” he said.
