BID-HUB IN PGIMER CHANDIGARH WORKS TOWARDS ‘MAKE IN INDIA’ MISSION

The Biomedical Instruments and Devices Hub (BID-Hub) has been established at postgraduate institute of medical education and research (pgimer) chandigarh, with the support of the department of science and technology dst, government of india, to promote indigenous development. a team of doctors led by Prof. G. D. Puri and Prof. Mathews of PGIMER made a proposal to the DST for sanction of bid-hub in 2015 which finally became functional in 2018.

The center is also working towards the mission of ‘Make in India’ by promoting the indigenous development of high-quality medical devices through innovation, design, and clinical validation steps. The hub has already delivered indigenous medical devices prototypes, patented and commercialized novel medical devices.

Prof. GD Puri, Dean (A), PGIMER, Chandigarh explained that BID-Hub at PGIMER is not only testing the new prototypes and devices made locally but also testing and validating the devices which are being used by clinicians in different parts of the hospital. The calibration testing lab at BID-Hub aims to make the medical devices safer by calibration-testing of all medical devices. The fully functional lab is currently doing in-house testing of different medical equipment types already in-use at PGIMER settings. Notably, the newly procured medical devices are also being subjected to the in-house calibration testing center at BID-Hub for their performance and safety evaluation. This practice of testing the equipment before the procurement or installation in the hospitals ensures critical analysis of the medical equipment regarding its accuracy and defined standards, thereby improving patient care at PGIMER and saving the cost.

A one-day virtual symposium “3rd BID Workshop: Role of Clinical Validation & Calibration Testing in bringing Medical Devices to the Markets” was specially designed to decipher the role of calibration testing and clinical validation of medical equipment. The seminar was inaugurated by Prof. Rajeev Ahuja, Director IIT Ropar. The seminar highlighted the common issues faced by the medical device R&D, Industry etc.

Prof. Jagat Ram, Director PGIMER said that the multidisciplinary center is facilitating device development by acting as a bridge between the engineers and clinicians. The hub acts as a node for CRIKC institutes IIT-Ropar, IIT Mandi, Panjab University, IMTECH, IISER, CSIO, INST etc., in the region for a diverse range of medical devices research & development.

Prof. Joseph L Mathew, Department of Paedriatics, PGIMER explained briefly the activities of the (BID-Hub) and highlighted the clinical expertise at BID-Hub, PGIMER, Chandigarh. He emphasized upon the clinical expertise at the Hub which can act critically in the success of most medical devices.

Being the end-user of the medical devices, clinicians can be the better judges of how well a device performs in clinical settings.