October 4, 2019
NHSRC has previously collaborated with WHO on medical devices, providing support on innovation and evaluation
NHSRC-WHO develop guidance document on Ministry initiatives to improve universal access to affordable diagnostics
Collaborations on International Classification and Nomenclature for Medical Devices to improve access to affordable health technology
India’s healthcare sector is expected to reach US$372 billion by 2022, growing three times from US$110 billion in 2016
An announcement from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), stated that the National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC) would henceforth be redesignated as the ‘WHO Collaborating Centre for Priority Medical Devices and Health Technology Policy’.
According to an official release from the Health Department, the NHSRC Division of Healthcare Technology is mandated to support the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on issues related to diagnostics initiative, National Dialysis Programme and other technology intensive services. This includes drawing up technical specifications for technologies procured under the National Health Mission, drafting policies for the maintenance and management of medical devices, undertaking evaluations of health product innovations, and conducting Health Technology Assessments (HTA).
NHSRC has previously supported WHO as a collaborating centre, providing technical specifications and evaluations for a range of innovative WHO medical devices. Most recently, the two worked together on developing a guidance document for the Ministry’s free diagnostics initiative, helping strengthen the agenda of providing universal access to affordable diagnostics. Furthermore, future collaboration on International Classification and Nomenclature for Medical Devices would improve access to affordable health technologies.
Global health technology collaborations facilitate the advancement of science and technology, research and development, and innovation. Union Health Minister, Harsh Vardhan, addressed the need for digital technologies in enabling access to medical and health related information, in reference to the Union Health Ministry and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences working together to launch the first-ever website and mobile application on oral health awareness.
In 2016, India’s healthcare sector was valued at around US$110 billion, with expectations to record a threefold rise to reach US$372 billion by 2022. Additionally, the sector is expected to generate 40 million jobs in India by 2020, increasing its potential for investment over subsequent years of growth and development.