HCFI also launches campaign that aims at raising awareness on indoor air pollution, which is the second largest killer in India
As a precursor to the 25th MTNL perfect health mela to be held from October 24 to 28 2018 at the Talkatora Indoor Stadium, New Delhi, the Heart Care Foundation of India (HCFI), a national NGO working in the healthcare sector, launched the ‘Make in India for Cure in India’ and ‘Indoor pollution is slow poison’ campaigns. The perfect health mela is a one-of-its-kind event held every year with a mission to generate all-around awareness on health. In its 25th edition, the event expects participation from over 1,00,000 individuals from all walks of life.
The campaigns launch focused on strategies to reduce indoor air pollution and the need to use medical devices manufactured in India. The aim is two-fold: to raise awareness on the fact that indoor air pollution can affect health as much as outdoor pollution; and to realize the goal of affordable healthcare through the Make in India for Cure in India movement.
Dr KK Aggarwal, President, Heart Care Foundation of India (HCFI); Mr Ashok Chakradhar, Author and Poet; Rajiv Nath, Forum Coordinator Association of Indian Medical Device Industry (AIMED); and JK Jain CMD DASNAC and Chair of the Just Solve Foundation were some of the dignitaries at the launch. Representatives from the Delhi Government health and environment department, DST, MTNL, MCD, and NDMC were also present.
Speaking at the event, Dr KK Aggarwal said, “The campaigns being launched are just two of the many other initiatives to be undertaken as part of the mela. People spend more than 90 per cent of their life indoors. Over 50 per cent of employed adults work in offices or similar non-industrial environments. The second campaign, ‘Make in India’ should be aggressively promoted to ensure that no one lacks access to timely treatment. This covers medical devices as well.”
The second largest killer, poor indoor air quality is responsible for about 1.3 million deaths in India each year, according to statistics. Addressing the media, JK Jain, said, “Indoor air pollution often goes unnoticed and can be a major health hazard even in urban areas. This makes it imperative for those in the construction business to design buildings keeping in mind the energy-efficiency angle and ensure that adequate measures are put in place to tackle indoor air pollution.”
As per industry estimates, the Indian medical devices market will grow to USD 50 billion by 2025. Speaking on this, Rajiv Nath said, “Without medical devices there cannot be any health care delivery. With the government’s intentions to make India a global medical devices manufacturing hub in the coming years and to achieve the overall goal of affordable health care for all by making all critical and lifesaving medical devices available at affordable prices, it is highly imperative to translate these intentions to implementing policies that boost this campaign.”
Private and public healthcare including Ayushman Bharat needs to incentivise ICMED (Indian Certification for Medical Devices) Quality Assurance Certification from the Quality Council of India. The government should provide level playing field, if not a strategic advantage to domestic manufacturing while safeguarding consumers or India will remain 70 per cent-90 per cent import dependent. Consumers can be protected by rational price controls and strong deterrents like punishment to errant companies engaged in unethical marketing practices to boost domestic manufacturing.