With advanced technologies including computed and digital radiography, full field digital mammography, advanced endoscopy systems, the Fujifilm is leaving no stone unturned to improve healthcare facilities in Indias every nook and corner, especially in villages and T-3 cities says Chander Shekhar Sibal, Senior Vice President, Fujifilm Medical, in conversation with Mukul Kumar Mishra of Elets News Network (ENN).

Q Fujifilm is a pioneer in diagnostic imaging and information systems in healthcare domain, what distinguishes your solutions from competitors vis-a-vis quality and accessibility?

Our products are best in terms of image quality. Major difference is quality and reliability of our products. We have CR (computed radiography), full field DR (digital radiography) and digital mammography and Synapse PACS (Picture Archiving and communication system). We have over 1,20,000 CR (computed radiography) systems installed worldwide. In India alone, we have 30,000 CR & Imagers installed. Image quality of our system is much better than our competitors. For example, CR system for mammography has got 50 micron image quality. We are the only company which provides such a high resolution. Our resolution is provided at very low dose. That is major advantage for our imaging system.

Moreover our products are very reliable in nature and breakdown rates are far lesser than our competitors.

Q You recently launched endoscopy system. How is it beneficial and has edge over traditional methods of treatment?

Early detection is the key to success in any kind of cancers. If it is detected early at first or second stage then patient can be treated cost-effectively.

Early detection increases life span of the patient. If cancer is detected at third or fourth stage then the cost of treatment goes very high and it becomes fatal at times. In India major problem is late detection of cancer. More than 50 per cent of the patients die within one year of detection of cancer in India. It is because of late detection.

Here we have new technology for targeted biopsy and early alarm, then up to a certain level Treatment also possible if cancer invaded up to submucosa (second layer of gut wall).

We recently launched a red dot awarded design Endoscopy system (ELUXEO “ 7000 series), which is the first its own kind of system in area of flexible endoscopy loaded with 4 different color LED lights (Blu, Blue violet, green & red), to get white light all lights are channelized in single path (Technology called as multi light), Lights play vital role here, we takes short/narrow wave length light to get micro surface pattern, BLI & LCI are unmatchable feature allows clinician to detect the growth early, which helps to save the life. We are into the very highend systems with very high resolution scope with (Blue Light Imaging – BLI) and linked color imaging (LCI). These systems go inside the body and give high resolution images to detect cancers at very early stage. This is useful for all types of Gastro cancers including stomach cancer and colon cancers. Then we have CR system. We have range of systems to detect cancers at early stage.

Not only that, after screening, advance detection, staging comes, we have Endoscopic ultrasound system developed by FUJIFILM in-house with the best EUS scopes with shorter rigid portion reduce patient Trauma, allow doctor ease of working and maneuverability.

Q Tell us something significant about your solutions like special solutions and Synapse Enterprise PACs.

FUJIFILM Synapse is your onestop shop. With an integrated mammography, RIS and PACS solution, high end FDA approved 3D post processing applications cater to entire hospital departments right from Radiology, Cardiology, Surgery, Orthopaedics, Neurology, Urology, Dental and Maxillofacial , Podiatry, Forensic Science for Virtual autopsies. We have fully trained clinical and dedicated IT professionals support team. Fujifilm offers a comprehensive approach to PACS customers.

Synapse product range have very unique feature which enables Multi Site hospitals and diagnostic centres to use the interconnected workflows and imaging needs. Tele radiology comes as a default component in our Synapse PACS RIS offering. Fujifilm provides obsolesce protection for software under CME which is one of the best attributes of our approach.

We have recently installed 100 CR systems across Assam and we all have been reported through teleradiology. Radiologists are not available at primary healthcare centres in small cities. These images have been reported within hour by radiologists sitting at central place.

We have our PAC system installed at MEDALL. There are 75 centres across India. There is a central reporting station where all radiologists sit and get reports from anywhere across the country. These systems are very useful for teleradiology which provides easy access to the patients where no doctors are available. These are transforming the healthcare in a big way.

Q In the digital era, technology is driving the healthcare industry. Apprise us about latest technology and innovations you recently adopted to improve patient care.

We are very much committed to provide new technology and innovations which help to improve patients life. We are going for all digital campaign. We are making the X-ray rooms completely digital so that these images can be transferred through tele-radiology, through web and can be reported from anywhere. Doctors can see those images and write the report. These are revolutionising the healthcare delivery to the patients in the smaller villages.

In Assam, we have installed computed tomography at 100 places. Similarly 120, 100 systems have been installed in Karnataka and Kerala respectively. We are converting these X-ray images in digital images and sending them through web which makes healthcare delivery faster to patients. Immediately, patients can be treated and problems get detected on X-ray. Apart from that we are launching new products in CR and DR segment. Under our Make in India initiative we have launched EP CORSA DR system at IRIA 2018, this would provide much value to existing CR customers by increasing productivity, lowering X-Ray dose to patients and improving image quality.

To promote our products further, Fujifilm is investing significantly into BTL activities like patient education program, road shows, recently we have organised symposium with the message A Comprehensive Review of Breast Imaging Intervention in association with Vijaya Medical center, Vishakhapatnam. The event reached and impacted the minds of more than 200 Radiologists/ Oncologist across South region. We also invite Press media to spread awareness about the cause.

We also launched the clinical case study book on digital mammography titled Identifying Breast Cancer with 3D Tomosynthesis written by Dr. Shilpa Lad from NM Medical Mumbai.

All in all, the rapidly expanding sector presents immense growth opportunities. To leverage the growth potential both government and business groups need to collaborate to provide better medical care facilities to people.

Q Access to quality diagnostic products and solutions is a big challenge in remote areas. How do you strategies to address this critical issue?

For giving services to rural areas at primary healthcare centres, we are tying up with the Government hospitals through public private partnership. We have collaboration with KRSNA, a public private partnership firm. They provide services and we provide equipment to this company. We are also directly selling equipment to the Government. We have the distributor network covering all 712 districts in country. We have installed more than 30,000 equipments across country. We can provide same speed and quality for services in Tier 3 cities as we provide in metro cities.

Q Indian device industry is growing as never before. How do you analyse the market scope of this sector?

The Indian device industry is growing at fast pace. We dont have much equipment infrastructure in our hospitals especially at the Government hospitals.

Now, the Government is tying up with private companies through PPP to provide equipment, services to people. There are huge requirements due to range of factors. We have very less number of radiologists or doctors currently. Only 10,000 radiologists are catering to huge population of India.

We require tele-radiology, digital solutions so that patients dont need to travel to radiologists. Rather through images patients can be monitored and treated.

The Government is coming up with new scheme National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS) under which Rs five lakh insurance will be given to underprivileged people (10 crore families) who are below poverty line. This will increase the paying power of the patient. With this new system in place, the poor people can avail tertiary care. Modicare will improve healthcare delivery by empowering poor to get tertiary healthcare facilitie

Read Another Story : Fujifilm Expands its Health IT Portfolio

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