This Bengaluru Doctor is Disrupting the Medical Device Sector in India
Medical equipment often consumes a good share of a hospital or a clinic's budget, as many devices have to be imported from other countries. Kumaresh Krishnamoorthy, an ENT Surgeon from Bengaluru, wants to end that.
Growing up in the lush green farmlands of South Indian town of Elur, in the state of Tamil Nadu, Kumaresh Krishnamoorthy was surrounded by hardships. Even though his father was a PhD holder in economics, he couldn't even afford a doctor consultation worth Rs 5, as a child. He adored the idealism of his father, and his upbringing sowed the seeds of a spectacular career as a healthcare entrepreneur and a specialist.
Indian medical device industry today is in the nascent stage with 75 % imports indicating little device development activities, unlike other industries. Need more proof? Data from the commerce ministry, collected by the Association of Indian Manufacturers of Medical Devices (AiMeD) confirms that imports of medical devices in FY19 rose 24 per cent year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 38,837.28 crore, an increment of Rs 7,450 crore.
Due to the high cost of imported medical devices, many small clinics and hospitals in India are often not able to buy advanced medical devices. As most of India's population still lives in rural areas, shortage of resources and infrastructure are frequent. In the absence of affordable, locally made medical devices, Dr Kumaresh Krishnamoorthy's affordable medical devices is a relief to several doctors and hospitals.
First-of-a-kind clinical-grade Laryngoscope?
Dr Kumaresh Krishnamoorthy
The video laryngoscope developed by the Bengaluru doctor costs only Rs 22500, including GST. This difference in pricing will bring down the price of surgery too.
Studies indicate that video laryngoscopy is the new gold standard for endotracheal intubation. However, its widespread use is limited due to financial limitations. Dr Krishnamoorthy's device allows better glottic visualisation, a higher success rate of intubation and a faster learning curve. It circumvents optimising manoeuvres like external manipulation of the larynx and changes in head position. It also minimised the trauma of the glottis. The intubation can be recorded on the phone for future reference and patient records.
The reusable VL design utilises waterproof and high-resolution miniature video camera embedded into a stainless steel Macintosh blade.
"The device can be used comfortably and without any trauma, even in paediatric age groups. It is also useful in complicated traumatic cases where there is a bloody airway or severely distorted anatomy. It is also useful for teaching airway anatomy students and paramedical staff. It is affordable, making it replace direct Laryngoscope. It is lightweight, easy to handle and can be used with less training. It is also useful for teaching residents ICU Personnel, Ambulance staff and emergency physicians," explains the doctor.
Since the rollout of the device in December 2019, 25 machines have already been sold off to doctors and hospitals. According to the doctor, the device can also play a crucial role in documenting the therapeutic process. All these procedures can be recorded and shared with patients. Documentation will bring more transparency into the healthcare system, he explains.
UV Bot- Mobile Room Steriliser for Hospitals
He has also developed a powerful hospital room steriliser-a UV Bot. Here's how it works. UVC light deactivates virus, bacteria, fungi, moulds and spores. It is very effective against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, Clostridium Difficile, Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus, influenza, dengue virus and other drug-resistant pathogens. It can be used in operation theatres, neonatal wards, children wards, post-operative care, ICU, patient rooms, labs and even for common areas. It saves human resources and doesn't require any chemicals. Disinfected rooms can be used immediately. There are two variants for the UV Bot and cost varies between Rs 9lakh-15 lakh. For the UV Bot, they have got certification from a NABL accredited lab.
Failures
Krishnamoorthy initially used to run a company to convert research from premier educational institutes like IITs to a product in the Indian market. However, even after three years, not even one product was released in the market. It was a big life lesson for the doctor, who has taken the entrepreneurial plunge. "It was my first big failure. My consultation had also come down to zero. That's when I decided to quit the role as the CEO of the company," he explains.
The ENT surgeon has also developed a portable disinfection unit, which can safely disinfect electronic and other pieces of medical equipment. He also points out that he has come up with two variations for every device-one for the doctor and the other for the doctor. The enterprise edition is more expensive than the basic version of the equipment.
Upcoming Product Releases
The cancer survivor also points out that his own experience as a patient triggered him to create an IV fluid monitor. "During my chemotherapy, I got a reaction. I was a doctor, and I knew it was a reaction; otherwise, I would have been dead. Each room is not going to have a nurse in a government or private hospital. If a patient gets a reaction, the nurse needs to be notified within seconds. That's why we have come up with IoT-enabled IV fluid monitor. We are waiting for the patent to come, after that, we will go for validations," he adds.
Unlike other medical device startups, the devices put the responsibility on the doctor rather than the patient. "The IV fluid will not stop automatically. Notification will be sent to the doctor. The nurse/doctor must stop it.
The devices are not available in online market places like Amazon. And most of the sales is primarily due to word-of-mouth. According to Krishnamoorthy, buyers from the UK, Singapore have already shown interest and want to push the devices through regulatory approval.
The ENT Physician has tied up with his friend's company Real Time Controls for manufacturing the devices. He points out that the biggest mistake than many healthcare startups do is that they don't have a healthcare professional as a part of the team, so it often becomes not user-friendly for the end-user.
Balancing Vision with Current Challenges
It remains to be seen whether Krishnamoorthy's devices will make an impact on rural India. Krishnamoorthy points out that he hasn't started testing waters in rural areas yet. He admits that the process will be slow and Indian government processes are not so entrepreneur-friendly. "When NR Narayan Murthy started Infosys, there were multiple challenges in front of him. But he made the world look to India for IT solutions. I want the world to know that medical devices can be made at an affordable cost with international quality standards in India," concludes the physician who wants to win a noble prize for medicine one day.