Imagine a patient with pneumonia on a ventilator, and suddenly, this life-saving equipment conked out. The breakdown could be attributed to a malfunctioning main PCB, a failed turbine or compressor, or a faulty part within the apparatus. Clearly, ventilator malfunctions can be lethal. In case one did not know, it is the biomedical engineer who works behind the scenes to keep ventilators and many other important life-sustaining pieces of equipment in perfect working order when the need to save lives arises.
The understated breed of engineers is essential to the healthcare system because they serve as a link between the intricate domains of technology and medical sciences. The design of respective medical devices, equipment, and software has enabled people with a rainbow of healthcare issues to access solutions that were, until now, unimaginable. All this array of functions has improved and saved lives in very many numbers, not forgetting reducing the economic burden that comes with healthcare. Medical space planning, pre-installation specifications, and the technical specifications of more than 800+ different types of equipment—from as simple as a glucometer to as sophisticated as radiation therapy—must be considered by biomedical engineers. These experts need to stay up to date on developments in both medicine and technology to use the rapidly advancing fields to solve a variety of clinical problems.
ALSO READ: Why Choose Microsoft Azure Machine Learning Studio for AI Development?
Have you ever wondered why the diagnosis and treatment were so expensive? You are footing the bill for the massive CAPEX that the hospitals have invested in buying very costly American, European, and Chinese equipment, such as MRI and CT machines, LINACs, and PET-CT scanners. Although India manufactures disposable medical devices such as orthopedic implants, cardiac stents, intraocular lenses, and catheters, among others, a huge gap remains in its supply and demand, as 70–80% of the needs are imported. The greatest stream for advancing the “Make in India” movement is this one. Regretfully, young people are happy to follow the herd and hope to join the modern fields and secure lucrative jobs, etc. Do we care about advances in medical technology?
The Indian government has put new reforms in place to enhance medical education. Only within a period slightly less than ten years, the number of medical colleges in India rose from 387 to 706 as reported by the National Medical Commission. This has increased further the number of the doctor patient ratio for India, which is fast approaching the stipulated number as in the guidelines of WHO, being 1:1000.
Can the same be said vis-à-vis its technology bearers, viz., biomedical engineers? The truth is that there are fewer and fewer institutions providing a biomedical engineering stream. In a significant re-engineering initiative, technical colleges throughout India have chosen to realign their curricula, closing several long-standing branches—such as Biomedical Engineering, which has few students—and substituting other courses in the new, developing fields. According to research conducted by the All-India Council for Technical Education, students are hesitant to choose a biomedical stream because there aren’t many opportunities in the fields of manufacturing and research. Following graduation, biomedical engineers are currently limited to positions in sales, service, application specialists, equipment consultants, coordinators, and procurement in businesses and/or hospitals. However, industry benchmarks suggest a need for 2-3 biomedical engineers per 100 hospital beds to ensure the smooth functioning and upkeep of all the medical equipment. A shortage in this area can lead to critical equipment failures and potentially endanger patient lives. A few years down the line, there will be a shortage of biomedical engineering graduates, which will make the supply lopsided. Also, a Biomedical Engineer’s salary in India with less than 1 year of experience to 8 years ranges from ₹ 1.1 Lakhs to ₹ 8 Lakhs with an average annual salary of ₹ 3 Lakhs based on a study conducted by AmbitionBox.com with a sample size of approx. 3,800 latest salaries received from Biomedical Engineers. Perceived as an afterthought in the market, are biomedical engineers mere technicians?
India’s medical device industry is projected to significantly expand, reaching a value of $50 billion by 2025, according to government official Dr. Jitendra Singh. India’s medical device market is predicted to reach US$ 12 billion by 2020 and grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15%, or 2.5 times the global growth rate. India is a significant player in the global medical device market, ranking among the top twenty countries and holding the fourth position in Asia after China, Japan, and South Korea. Key participants at the medical technology panel discussion during BioAsia 2021 estimated that India would achieve self-sufficiency in production of medical devices indigenously by 2025–2026. ICMR at IITs, the Indian Council of Medical Research, and the Indian Institutes of Technology joined forces in November 2021 for the establishment of Centers of Excellence (CoE) to develop and commercialize “Made-in-India” medical device products.
Going ahead, an evidence-based biomedical curriculum updated with on-job training requirements in hospitals, consulting firms, OEMs, and distributors would help ensure continuity in BMEs. State-of-the-art specializations, if added, such as artificial intelligence, robotic surgery, tissue engineering, medical virtual reality, etc., would draw students’ interests in this field. A platform for continuing biomedical education would be ideal to exchange ideas, expand knowledge, and disseminate wisdom amongst BMEs in India and globally. Increased R&D and manufacturing opportunities would stimulate interest in this high-tech, fast-paced industry. Active engagement in professional networks, such as EMBS, IEEE, BMES, MRS, TERMIS, etc. can significantly accelerate career advancement.
It is not a prediction; it is a spoiler that Biomedical Engineering is going to create plutocrats in the future. This field is not for the faint-hearted, those seeking mere employment, or those content to follow the crowd. It is for leaders of tomorrow who are willing to take risks, and defy the status quo, those pioneers, and entrepreneurs who can dare to make in India to make India self-reliant and self-sufficient.
By Sunny Shroff, Healthcare Consultant & Biomedical Engineer, HOSMAC
Begin your learning journey today by visiting EasyShiksha.com and explore the potential of Azure Machine Learning Studio. Let’s build the future, one model at a time!
