BANGALORE, INDIA, GE Healthcare, a unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), reiterated its commitment towards ‘Make in India’ by strengthening its R&D, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Distribution capabilities and Education initiative. With enhanced capabilities, GE today announced the launch of Revolution™ ACTs*, first Computed Tomography system designed and developed by GE Healthcare in India. The Revolution ACTs is manufactured in India for India and the world. The Revolution ACTs is the result of Rs.120 Crores investment and collaborative efforts of GE and Indian healthcare providers for over 4 years.
Speaking at the occasion, John Flannery, President and CEO of GE Healthcare, said, “Make in India means much more than local manufacturing for us at GE Healthcare. It is a 360 degree thrust starting with designing and developing relevant solutions in partnership with our users; robust engineering of technologies; developing a world class supply chain, advanced manufacturing, expert user training and developing a network for distribution as well as maintenance of these solutions in the remotest parts of the country and world. It represents our commitment to work towards making quality healthcare truly accessible and affordable for India as well as the world. “
“We are proud that our first ever locally designed CT technology – Revolution ACTs is developed by the people of India, for the people of India. It is a testament to India’s intellectual, design and advanced manufacturing capabilities.” added Terri Bresenham, President& CEO of GE Healthcare South Asia.
Healthcare in India is under-served and under-consumed with its skewed imbalance in resources. India faces severe shortfall of both hard infrastructure and skilled talent, especially in Tier II-IV towns. While disruptive technologies have the potential to enhance infrastructure and care delivery, adoption of same has been restricted due to a number of factors like affordability, knowledge about its clinical utility, distribution, service, funding etc. For over 2 decades GE Healthcare has been innovating and making in India to enhance affordability and access of healthcare solutions. GE Healthcare has recently formed a new national network – GenWorks Health Pvt. Ltd and is endeavoring to address these severe challenges faced by healthcare providers in Tier II-IV towns. GenWorks has commenced operations with 150 highly experienced team members with each member having an average industry and leadership experience of 17 years. GenWorks is rapidly building presence in 450 tier II-IV towns to take disruptive technologies, training and support closer to healthcare providers in a bid to give these first time users a high quality user experience.
“All initiatives to develop relevant technologies would be meaningless if they are not accessible to all and hence we also invested and built a national network. GenWorks Health Pvt Ltd will help us take these technologies to the grass root level and provide world-class training and support for doctors to ensure technology can benefit patient outcomes. Healthier India cannot be built in isolation and hence GE Healthcare is looking at an all-inclusive approach to achieve this. With GenWorks, we are stepping up our efforts to elevate the standard of healthcare services in tier II/III cities and towns through this new venture “said Terri Bresenham.
For over 25 years, GE Healthcare has been working extensively towards a healthier India through innovating in India, making in India and now skilling India. GE Healthcare has strengthened R&D facility with the inclusion of a Global Design Studio called eCube. The studio serves the vital role of a stage for immersive research and collaborative co-creation of disruptive technologies with willing healthcare providers as partners. Revolution ACTs is the result of 4 years of research and development by 75 GE scientists and engineers in collaboration with over 500 healthcare providers from both urban and rural settings. The Revolution ACTs also achieved a remarkable feat of 5 global patents for its design and engineering.
“Revolution ACTs is a journey into the needs of new users of CT in smaller towns. It’s about innovating for affordability and defining solutions that deliver high quality diagnostic CT solutions in the most challenging healthcare markets. We hope to place one Revolution ACTs per district to improve access to quality diagnosis “said Milan Rao, Chief Operating Officer, GE Healthcare, India & South Asia.
Revolution ACTs is 40% more affordable compared to previous generation 4 slice CT systems. The total life cycle cost of Revolution ACTs is further reduced by its 8m2 compact footprint leading to 45% lower siting cost and 47% savings in electricity consumption. Making in India will bring in additional cheer to Indian healthcare providers – faster delivery, faster response and reduced import duties. Revolution ACTs introduces Clarity panel detector, exclusively developed for this product to improve image resolution, along with Smart Dose technologies to lower radiation dose by up to 36% while preserving high image quality. It hosts an efficient digital workflow and an user interface that is easy to learn and use for even a first time user.
GE has developed a world class supplier base in India as well as facilities for assembly and testing. Over 30% of the product components and parts are either in-house manufactured or sourced from India and includes the heart of the machine – Generator and Tubes. GE is the first company to manufacture advanced healthcare imaging technologies in India with its first factory set up in Bangalore in 1991. Today, GE Healthcare has three dedicated, world class manufacturing plants in Bangalore with over 400,000 sq. ft of manufacturing space that has produced over 200,000 units of medical technologies for the world. GE has been recognized as the largest medical electronics exporter for 11 consecutive years.
CT is one of the most valuable diagnostic tools in emergency rooms as well as in the diagnosis of several health conditions like Stroke, Trauma etc. with its rapid imaging capability for quick diagnosis. India has one of the highest prevalence of diseases like Stroke with 1.6 Mn new cases every year leading to 0.63 Mn deaths. India also accounts for largest accidents and trauma conditions with 1 accident per minute and 1 death every 3.7 minutes. One third of accident victims can be saved with speedy hospitalization and trauma care. However, in India, we have limited penetration of this important technology – 3 CT systems per million populations compared to 20 CT systems per million population in developed markets. An ACT can be the change.
As per a recent Bain & Company report, India has made noteworthy progress and is healthier today than ever, but the country still struggle with substantial issues and gaps in its healthcare system. Healthcare in India is under-served and under-consumed with its skewed imbalance in resources. India faces severe shortfall of both hard infrastructure and skilled talent today. India imports over 75% of its medical technologies and devices today making accessibility and affordability a challenge. Many healthcare providers are forced to opt for low quality, used and sometimes obsolete technologies that leads to poor quality diagnosis and costly downtimes. Now is an opportune time to re-define India’s healthcare system in order to power India’s economic growth. Co-creating relevant technologies in India for India can lead to increased adoption to deliver quality healthcare everywhere. India can emerge as an innovation hub for disruptive technologies and quality manufacturing.
About GE Healthcare: GE Healthcare provides transformational medical technologies and services to meet the demand for increased access, enhanced quality and more affordable healthcare around the world. GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter – great people and technologies taking on tough challenges. From medical imaging, software & IT, patient monitoring and diagnostics to drug discovery, biopharmaceutical manufacturing technologies and performance improvement solutions, GE Healthcare helps medical professionals deliver great healthcare to their patients.
GE Healthcare is at work for a healthier India and is focusing on some of the toughest healthcare challenges faced by India today – lowering maternal and infant deaths, enabling early detection of cancer for early treatment, addressing heart diseases early, etc. GE Healthcare pioneered innovation of healthcare imaging technologies in India for India and the world to enhance access to quality healthcare at affordable costs to more people. GE Healthcare operates in India through a joint venture namely Wipro GE Healthcare Private Limited. For the latest news, please visit http://newsroom.gehealthcare.com
About GE in India: Present in India since 1902, GE works to innovate, partner and develop technology solutions in energy, healthcare, infrastructure, aviation and financial services that improve the quality of life in the country. With over 13,000 employees, GE’s imagination is taking the nation to the future with ideas designed and developed in India – for India and for the rest of the world.
With more than 5,300 technologists, GE’s research centers in Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Chennai are developing new technologies for both India and the world, while the 10 local manufacturing facilities bring products, services and technologies closer to customers. GE in India has partnered with a number of Indian companies to develop localized solutions, meeting the needs of the country. Committed to social development, GE in India is closely engaged with local communities on social and environmental issues.
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April 20th, 2015 at 4:05 pm
Accommodating all: We believe that every endeavor must be structured to accommodate the needs of both the privileged and under privileged clients and customers in the society.
In the second and third paragraph of this article, the values of accommodation are made clear.
“Revolution ACTS is developed by the people of India for the people of India.” This statement further supports this principle.
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