Mar 07, 2023
KMTC 'Connect Meet' at NIT Calicut to boost medical technology research
Medical institutions joining hands with NITC under the leadership of KMTC
Kerala Medical Technology Consortium (KMTC) and the National Institute of Technology Calicut joined hands to organize a one-day ‘Connect Meet’ on 7th March. where experts and stakeholders came together to discuss issues around Translational Research in Medical Technology. The Meet themed around “Translational Research in MedTech: From Concept to Manufacturing”, brought together the various stakeholders of the Kerala MedTech Ecosystem - Research Institutions, MedTech Companies, Academic Institutions, Govt agencies, Startups, Healthcare Professionals and Hospitals to discuss and exchange notes on taking innovations and ideas from a concept stage all the way to commercial manufacturing.
KMTC is a flagship initiative of the Government of Kerala, aimed at establishing Kerala as the top Medical Technology / Medical Devices hub of India by 2032. KMTC acts as a catalyst to accelerate research, innovation, development and manufacturing in the sector by bringing together all stakeholders in a vibrant, interactive and inclusive ecosystem. KMTC organizes Stakeholder Connect Meets (SCM) on a regular basis, in associations with key partners in different parts of the state, to help the ecosystem to interact better.
Director of NIT Calicut, Prof. Prasad Krishna inaugurated the Meet in the morning and emphasized on the necessity of indigenization of the technologies for making healthcare affordable. The Special Officer of KMTC, Mr. C. Padmakumar, set the context for the event in his address to the participants, urging the experts, participants to share their knowledge and insights to distill their experiences and learning to help improve Translational Research, especially in the Medical Technology and Medical Devices area.
Inspiring and encouraging words were also delivered by Dr. Saji Gopinath (Vice Chancellor, Digital University Kerala), Dr. E. V. Gopi (Principal, Government Medical College Kozhikode), Dr. K M Navas (Chairman, KMCT Group of Institutions), Dr. Narayanankutty Warrier (Medical Director, MVR Cancer Centre and Research Institute), and Dr. Gopakumaran Kartha (Dean, Dr. Moopen’s Medical College, Wayanad) during the inaugural session.
In the technical session, Dr. Siby Varghese, Deputy Director of Rubber Research Institute of India (RRII), elaborated on the immense opportunities in natural rubber and latex based medical products. Dr. Santhosh Kuriakose (Govt. Medical College, Kozhikode) and Dr. Vijayagopal (MVR Cancer Centre and Research Institute) described their ongoing research collaborations with NIT Calicut in the area of ‘Artificial Intelligence for Health Care’.
NIT Calicut, Government Medical College Kozhikode, KMCT group of Medical Institutions, Dr. Moopen’s Medical College and MVR Cancer Centre and Research Institutions presented the ongoing research activities in the relevant field and overview of the facilities at the respective institutions. Selected startups from the medical devices field showcased their innovations. They also presented the challenges they are facing in the product development process.
There were 130 participants including Heads of all the major hospitals and Medical Colleges and about 50 doctors from Government Medical College Kozhikode, KMCT Medical College, Dr. Mooopen’s Medical College, MVR Cancer Centre and Research Institute and many others in this one day programme who discussed the challenges and requirements in the medical field and opportunities for the development of new technology and devices.
NIT Calicut Director Prof. Prasad Krishna inaugurating the KMTC Connect Meet held at NITC on Tuesday. Dr. Navas K M (Chairman, KMCT Group of Institutions, Mr. C Padmakumar (Special Officer, KMTC), Dr. E V Gopi (Principal, Govt. Medical College, Kozhikode), Dr. Gopakumaran Kartha (Dean, Dr, Moopen's Medical College, Wayanad) and Dr. Narayanan Kutty Warrier (Medical Director, MVR Cancer Centre and Research Institute, Kozhikode) are also seen.
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