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India’s medical technology industry has entered a defining chapter, led by local teams advancing innovation and laying the foundation for long-term self-reliance.
This shift is especially visible in advanced imaging areas like Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), where a convergence of local R&D and engineering excellence is driving healthcare breakthroughs from India to the rest of the world. The focus is on compact design to tackle transport and deployment hurdles," said Sanjeev Krishnan Thampi, head of R&D for Magnetic Resonance, Siemens Healthineers Development Center.
Rising demand for early diagnostics, and high prevalence of neurological and oncological conditions are fueling the growth of MRI installations across India. To meet this demand, there has been a need to build high-performance, locally developed MRI systems that match global standards while addressing India’s clinical diversity and accessibility challenges, he added.
The local innovation ecosystem has matured to a point where teams are now developing complete MRI systems from the ground up. At Siemens Healthineers Development Center, our R&D footprint, increased investment, and a focus on end-to-end product development from India. This transformation reflects a commitment to solving healthcare challenges through meaningful innovation, Thampi told Pharmabiz.
Within radiology departments, MRI scanners are some of the most energy-demanding equipment.
They also rely heavily on helium a rare and finite resource with traditional scanners requiring close to 1,000 liters of liquid helium. To address this, we developed a technology which radically reduces its consumption to only 0.7 liters of liquid helium, making MRI more sustainable, efficient, and easier to maintain, he said.
Transportation and deployment have also been long-standing hurdles, particularly in remote areas. By rethinking hardware requirements and focusing on efficiency and compactness, new solutions are being introduced that make it possible to bring MRI technology closer to patients in areas where access was previously limited. With the integration of AI-powered solutions that work in tandem with hardware innovations, we optimize hospital workflows and reduce the burden on technicians, said Thampi.
Here advanced algorithms like Deep Resolve reduces MRI scan times and improve image quality. These AI-based solutions support high-quality imaging even with lower field strength systems such as 0.55T. These play a vital role in addressing patient load, reducing wait times, and supporting faster clinical decision-making, especially when there is a shortage of trained radiology professionals.
Our collaboration with the external ecosystem marks a significant step toward reducing barriers to medical imaging, setting the stage for more homegrown innovation. Here our partnership was with AIIMS Ballabhgarh to install one of the first MRI scanners housed in a container. With this, we intend to increase our clinical impact and patient touchpoints. We have signed an MoU with the Society for Applied Microwave Electronic Engineering and Research (SAMEER), the autonomous R&D Institute under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), to further improve access to MRI in India, he said.
Siemens Healthineers has strengthened its local manufacturing of MRI equipment in India. In 2023, it set up a new production line in its Bengaluru facility to manufacture MRI machines, with a simple and helium-free approach. We are continuously expanding our manufacturing footprint in India. As demand for advanced diagnostics rise, the focus is on not just advanced solutions but scalable, built to last, and suited to the country’s needs. This can be realized only when we pioneer breakthroughs in healthcare that reaches everyone, everywhere, sustainably, said Thampi.
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