Samsung believes everyone should get a uniform access to healthcare irrespective of their social status. With the objective to provide healthcare access to a huge population of India, we incorporated the latest technologies like AI (Artificial Intelligence) which can help doctors to do accurate diagnosis, says Atantra Das Gupta, Director, Head-Health and Medical Equipments (CE), Samsung India, in conversation with Elets News Network (ENN).
Q Samsung is commonly known for electronic gadgets, give us an overview of your journey in the area of healthcare, especially in India.
Globally, we started our journey six years back and acquired Medison, which is a South Korean company dealing with ultrasound. From there, we started to expand our business operations in India. We have expanded in terms of channels, dealers, and manpower. We came up with an inclusive range of ultrasounds and digital radiography. Our objective has been to provide healthcare access to a huge population of India, so we incorporated the latest technologies, like AI (Artificial Intelligence) to help doctors to do accurate diagnosis.
Q What prominent initiatives is Samsung taking to achieve its vision of diagnosis, costeffective solutions and improved workflow to customers?
We have to understand Indias medical device market which stands at USD 5.2 billion. It is almost four to five per cent of the whole healthcare market in India. When we talk about economic and affordable solutions, it has to be truly affordable without any negotiation on quality. Sometimes quality is compromised to make the solution affordable. Samsung stands apart on this front.
From our entry-level ultrasound equipment to the premium ones, we try to maintain a uniformity in terms of quality, which in turn benefits the customers. We havent distinguished between premium customers and those from tier-2 and tier-3 cities, as Samsung always believes that everyone should get a uniform access to the healthcare.
Q What are your latest innovations in the medical technology field?
One of the biggest challenges in the area of medical technology is radiation. Radiation hazards are maximum while dealing in X-rays. A recent WHO study explained the case of diagnosis with X-ray based equipment. It was found that amount of radiation the equipment produced was much more than the radiation emitted during World War II.
So in its endeavour to help the mankind and to make diagnosis process better, we have come up with a much eco-friendly solution (low dose), which is approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) as well.
Our digital radiography not only gives a crystal clear image to help in accurate diagnosis, but it also brings down radiation level to help patients, radiographers, and doctors from its harmful effects.
Q Tell us something about your diagnostic imaging devices and in-vitro diagnostics specialisation. How distinctly placed are you in the market?
We believe equipment should reach the patients, not the other way around. In India, we are primarily dealing with ultrasound and digital radiography. On ultrasound front, our entire range is mobile and the equipment can be dragged down to the patients bed. In the case of X-ray, we have got a mobile solution that is GM 85 with all the advanced specifications incorporated in it. GM 85 has got all the features with less radiation in comparison to other X-ray equipment.
Q Tell us about Samsungs innovation in healthcare and its growing presence internationally. How prominent is the companys presence in India and what are its objectives here?
Primarily, we are dealing with ultrasounds and x-rays. We have also acquired Neurologica and going to introduce mobile CTs in near future. Though it is already being done by international dealers, in future we will be able to sell it through our own Samsung brand. Q Would you like to share something more from your vast experience in healthcare? Despite being a new brand in healthcare domain, we have pan- India presence. It is not only limited to individual clinics and diagnostic centers but in many corporate hospitals as well. In the future, you will see our presence in many government and private hospital too.
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