IIT Guwahati Partners Tata MD, NHM Assam to Implement Public Health Model

One notable aspect of this project is the strategic partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which will provide insights and share learnings to adapt and implement innovative healthcare models.

The Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Health Mission (NHM), Assam, and Tata Medical & Diagnostics Ltd (Tata MD) to introduce Tata MD's Healthcare Model.

This collaborative effort aims to enhance public healthcare delivery in the Kamrup district by establishing a Digital Nerve Centre.

The MoU signing ceremony involved key stakeholders, including Dr MS Lakshmi Priya, mission director of NHM Assam, Girish Krishnamurthy, MD & CEO of Tata MD, and Prof Parameswar K. Iyer, Dean PRBR at IIT Guwahati.

The event was graced by Assam Health Minister Keshab Mahanta, Girish Krishnamurthy, CEO of Tata MD, Prof Rajeev Ahuja, officiating director of IIT Guwahati, and representatives from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Tata MD, and IIT Guwahati.

Commenting on the objective behind this initiative, Keshab Mahanta said, "We are extremely excited that Tata MD, under the leadership of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, is setting up the transformative Digital Nerve Centre Model in Assam. We are grateful to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and IIT Guwahati for partnering in this initiative. With this MoU, we mark the beginning of a unique transformative journey that holds the promise of better health outcomes, enhanced accessibility and facilitate local employment in this project. We are committed to bringing advanced healthcare to every household with technological interventions. I believe this MoU will cater to the needs of the people in healthcare by providing easy access and better treatment."

One notable aspect of this project is the strategic partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which will provide insights and share learnings to adapt and implement innovative healthcare models. The collaboration aims to extend the project's benefits to more women and children, ensuring access to life-saving care.

As part of the initiative, a Digital Nerve Centre – Command Centre (Hub) will be established at the IIT Guwahati campus, supported by technical, IT, and physical infrastructure from Tata MD.

The pilot project will also involve setting up Digital Nerve Centre components at Healthcare Centres in 30 District Hospitals, Community Health Centres, Primary Health Centres, and Sub-centres in Assam.

IIT Guwahati's active involvement includes providing office space for the centre at no cost, managing the operations at DiNC, and conducting research to drive technology-led innovation in the healthcare domain.

The Tata MD's Healthcare Model focuses on augmenting public healthcare delivery in the North Guwahati block. It introduces four new layers—network, platform, process, and people—to provide end-to-end care coordination services to patients.

The model aims to enhance existing health programs through close coordination with the Government of Assam's Health & Family Welfare Department and all stakeholders for a holistic healthcare transformation.

This collaborative effort reflects a modern approach to healthcare delivery, leveraging technology, processes, networks, and community engagement to create an ecosystem that ensures efficient and effective healthcare for the masses.

In previous developments, IIT-Guwahati designed a 3D-printed apparatus for swift UTI (Urinary Tract Infection) diagnosis. This ingenious device comes at a manufacturing cost of approximately INR 608, with each sample test costing a mere INR 8.

In contrast, the traditional method, which relies on urine culture, usually demands about two days, causing treatment delays and potential complications for patients. The dedicated research team behind this innovation aims to reduce detection time significantly, thereby elevating the quality of patient care.