BY RAHUL KOUL
HEALTHCARE MUST BE GIVEN A PRIORITY IT DESERVES
In a detailed conversation with the BioVoice News, one of the India’ s finest radiology expert, the ever-smiling Dr Harsh Mahajan gave insightful responses to the pointed questions on trends in diagnostics, policy issues and overall state of healthcare in India. Read the excerpts below:
BY RAHUL KOUL
What are the latest trends in the radiology and imaging in India?
Trends in India are the same as rest of the world. No longer is India lagging as it used to be in the past. We are contemporary with the international standards.
When I came back to India after finishing my education, I saw that there was no magnetic resonance machine( MRI) machine. That is when we installed the first one in 1991 even when there was none in the country, not even in AIIMS. We later brought functional MRI to India. Technology advancements are a part of human quest for excellence.
Technology brings lot many changes. In last 25 years, I have witnessed a lot of technology upgradation. Infact it is amazing that the medical technologies are fast being compared to mobiles whose latest versions come within no time. These days the patients are much aware than the past. The smart phones are transmitting knowledge at a bigger scale than we can think. Market forces also play a role in shaping the industry. Apart from that the staff at diagnostic centres plays an important role in the entire experience as it changes the perception of patients.
How do you look at the state of healthcare in India? Has anything changed over last few decades?
The primary healthcare is still an issue that India is grappling with. Infact, it is still lagging behind despite all our policies. Preventive health is not fully developed. Lack of potable water is also leading to disease in many rural areas. Communicable disease are again being tackled. Prevention is better than cure. Focus on preventive healthcare is an issue. Pollution and environmental factors are leading to our maximum health concerns.
Is the diagnostic technology really of help when the awareness levels among patients are not enough?
The holistic approach to the technology is necessary. The technology in isolation means little. While it is easy to procure, and install any new
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