In India, podiatric medicine is still in its infancy compared to western countries, with low awareness about the role of podiatric specialists in foot health. The increasing prevalence of chronic diseases like diabetes, the fast-rising recreational and competitive sports scenario, and accelerating lifestyle changes, all have given rise to situations that necessitate urgent attention to specialised foot and ankle care, including specialised surgeries and timely interventions that can help prevent amputations.
According to recent statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO), India is home to over 77 million adults living with diabetes, and among diabetes-related complications, approximately 19% of diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) patients in India undergo amputation, highlighting the urgent need for specialized foot care services. In case of sports related injuries too, foot and ankle injuries contribute to approximately 16.9% of all injuries during the Summer Olympics and 5.1% during the Winter Olympics.
In light of the above, Footsecure, a phygital healthcare start-up specialising in podiatric medicine and wound care, is revolutionising foot care in India by offering accurate diagnosis, treatments, and surgeries led by a team of Podiatric, Orthopaedic and Vascular Surgeons, Diabetic Foot Specialists, Physiotherapists and Orthotists. Established in 2019 with the aim to serve and empower both patients and clinicians, Footsecure has been working towards integrating podiatric medicine with the existing healthcare system to ensure accessibility and affordability for all patients. Their proprietary digital ecosystem, Wound360 and Foot360, is designed to empower healthcare providers offering guidelines and a vast knowledge base for diagnosis, treatment, support, and rehabilitation for patients.
Speaking about the Union Budget, Dr Sanjay Sharma, Podiatric Surgeon Wound Care Specialist and Co-Founder of Footsecure, said, “As a podiatric surgeon, I am pleased with the Union Budget’s emphasis on innovation and healthcare. The Anusandhan National Research Fund and the Rs 1 lakh crore financing pool for private sector-driven research are crucial for advancing treatments in podiatry. The increase in R&D funding to Rs1,200 crore for 2024-25, up from Rs 840 crore, and the PLI scheme’s boost for the pharma sector will drive essential innovations. We also welcome the enhanced Mudra Loan limit to Rs 20 lakh, which supports MSMEs, especially in the healthcare sector, and the skilling programme to upskill 20 lakh youth. These measures will greatly benefit healthcare advancements and public health. Overall, we are excited to leverage these advancements to drive progress in foot and ankle wellness and contribute to the broader goal of enhancing public health.”
Dr. Sanjay Sharma, Co-Founder of FootSecure
