PM Modi will Prove ‘Pacemaker’ for Indian Healthcare
PM Modi will Prove ‘Pacemaker’ for Indian Healthcare
New Delhi, October31: When PM Narendra Modi was exhorting India to go for manufacturing state of the art medical equipments while inaugurating Sir H.N. Reliance Foundation Hospital and Research Centre in Mumbai last week, he was not merely flying kite. During his 15 years of chief ministerial stint, Gujarat already showed the way. Experts believe that PM Narendra Modi may prove a ‘Pacemaker’ for the medical device manufacturing in India.
‘Make in India’ buzz was heard loud and clear in 7th APHRS (Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society) four day conference in Delhi Hotel Taj from October 29 on latest cardiac devices including pacemaker to correct the deadly arrhythmia (heart rhythm disorder, being too slow or too fast), a major cause of sudden death. Answering a question in a press conference today (October 31), Dr. Mohan Nair, Chairman, Organizing Committee, APHRS and Chairman Cardiology, Saket City Hospital said, ‘PM Modi’s pitch and India’s capacity for making medical devices is not without substance. A pacemaker named Shree Pacetronics is being manufactured in Gujarat for 15 years. This pacemaker is not only being used by domestic patients but it is also being exported to China, Africa and East Europe. Yes, in near future India is expected to make all high end medical devices. It will certainly bring down the cost of medical devices’
The APHRS is one of the largest gatherings of Cardiac Electro physiologists in the world. It is being held in India for the first time ever. Over 1500 physicians and cardiologists from all over the world attended the conference organized jointly by the Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society (APHRS) and Indian Heart Rhythm Society (IHRS). New technologies like leadless Pacemakers and Subcutaneous ICD’s were showcased. 200 scientific sessions were conducted by 250 core leading National and International faculty on topics such as ECGs, Sudden Cardiac Death, Atrial Fibrillation, Heart Failure and Arrhythmia. A special focus is also being given to technological development in the field of heart rhythm disorders.
Dr Nairsaid to Meditoall, “It is indeed a proud moment to have an international conference of such stature and scale being organized in India. With the increasing incidence of heart rhythm disorders in the country, it is extremely important that we make full use of the advancements in technology in the fields of arrhythmia and electro cardiology and educate the community about new and innovative treatment options available globally.’
Dr Young-Hoon Kim, President APHRS, also said, ‘We look forward to all state of art medical devices being manufactured in India. I am thrilled to be in India for the conference and amongst some of the leading global experts in the field”. Giving a global perspective, Dr Richard Fogel, President, Heart Rhythm Society said, ‘Technological advancement has now revolutionized treatment of heart rhythm disorders. For instance putting a three lead pacemaker is now an established non-drug therapy for end stage heart failure’.
Dr Kalyanam Shiv Kumar, Director, Cardiac Arrhythmia Center and Professor, Department of Medicine Radiology, UCLA USA, said, ‘It is now possible to catheter ablate most of the cardiac irregular heart rhythms safely and effectively. With the help of ultra-modern technologies a majority of heart attacks due to heart rhythm disorders can be avoided’.
Dr Jonathan Kalman, Professor at The Royal Melbourne Hospital in Melbourne, said, “Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained heart rhythm disturbance and a major cause of stroke and death. Over recent decades, the incidence of AF has increased dramatically, positioning AF as one of the epidemics of the new millennium. Conferences like the APHRS Scientific Session like are extremely important platforms to discuss advancements in the field and provide adequate training to heart rhythm physicians to address this modern epidemic’
In the past APHRS has been organized in countries such as Hong Kong, Singapore, China, Korea, Japan, and Taiwan. Next year’s conference will take place in Melbourne, Australia during the month of November 2015.
