Nephro Care India develops AI-enabled smart Haemodialysis machine

Nephro Care India Limited (NCIL) is developing a prototype of an AI-enabled Smart Haemodialysis Machine that will be remotely monitored. This initiative aims to make renal care more accessible and affordable for patients across India. The company, which has received a grant from the Department of Science and Technology and Biotechnology, West Bengal, is collaborating with the National Institute of Technology, Silchar, on this project.

The new prototype is expected to reduce the cost of haemodialysis machines by 70-75%, lowering the price from the current Rs 7.5-8 lakh to approximately Rs 2 lakh. Dr Pratim Sengupta, Founder and MD & CEO of Nephro Care India, stated, “Currently, a majority of haemodialysis machines in India are imported, leading to significantly higher costs. Indigenous manufacturing of these machines can reduce costs, thereby lowering the treatment expenses for patients suffering from advanced renal failure.”

Haemodialysis machines filter waste, salts, and fluids from the blood of patients whose kidneys cannot perform these functions effectively. The prototype under development will allow for remote monitoring, making dialysis more accessible in semi-urban and rural areas.

Commenting on the project, Dr Sengupta said, “We are really happy to share that we are among the first private sector players to receive the state government grant for developing the prototype of haemodialysis machines in India. At Nephro Care, it has been our constant endeavour to make renal care more affordable and accessible to the masses, and this is a significant step in that direction. We are hopeful of developing the prototype in the next 7-8 months, after which it will undergo various levels of testing. Once ready, we believe it can significantly reduce the cost of dialysis and make renal care accessible in rural and semi-urban markets.”

NCIL, which successfully completed its initial public offering earlier this year, recently inaugurated Vivacity Multispecialty Hospital, a 100-bed facility in Madhyamgram, Kolkata, with an investment of Rs 36.51 crore. Founded in 2014 by Dr Sengupta, Nephro Care India provides comprehensive medical services for renal patients.

The development of the indigenous dialysis machine is expected to help bridge the demand-supply gap in the renal care industry. According to government estimates, nearly 220,000 patients in India develop end-stage renal disease (ESRD) each year, resulting in an annual demand for 34 million dialysis treatment sessions.

A report by EY and the Healthcare Federation of India (NATHEALTH) from March 2023 noted that around 94 per cent of dialysis patients in India rely on haemodialysis (HD). To meet the needs of 220,000 new ESRD patients annually, India would require close to 103,507 HD machines. However, the country currently has only about 40,000 machines, leading to a shortage of 65,000 machines.

The report also highlights the challenges posed by the uneven distribution of dialysis facilities, with approximately 90 per cent of centres located in urban areas. As a result, over 60 per cent of dialysis patients travel around 50 kilometres for treatment, while nearly 25 per cent live more than 100 kilometres away from the nearest facility.

“Being AI-enabled smart machines, these can be remotely monitored, allowing healthcare specialists to keep a close tab on the health of their patients without requiring them to travel long distances. This will make renal care more accessible in the remotest corners of the country,” Dr Sengupta added.