'Health expo can be annual event'

From the last two-three decades, health care industry is growing like anything in India and the annual turnover of the industry would reach upto 116 billion by 2017, said Nitte University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr B Ramananda Shetty. 

Speaking at the valedictory of Healthcare Equipment Expo here, on Wednesday, Ramananda Shetty opined that there is scope to expand health care market. 

“Though Indian marketing is in top 20 markets of the world, the country’s health care market is very small. Though domestic market is strong, we are depending on multinational companies for radiology and cancer treatment equipment,” he said. 

“Unfortunately around 70 per cent of urban population and 63 per cent of rural population in India are still depending on private hospitals. When USA spends 10 per cent of its GDP for health care, we spend only 10 per cent for the sector. The Central government has reduced customs duty on health equipments from 16 per cent to 8 per cent. However, more support is needed make health care affordable,” he said. 

Yenepoya University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr P Chandra Mohan has opined that there is a challenge of updating in the phase of knowledge excellence. “Earlier diagnosis used to conduct through medical examination and investigation, but now the investigation methods are changing. It is a challenge to cure increasing life style related diseases. There is a need of proper equipments and expos would help in this regard,” he said. 

Presiding over the function, Mangalore South MLA J R Lobo has opined that the health expo can be developed into an annual State-level exhibition with the support of the government and medical institutions which would also help medical tourism. When district-level hospitals and general public participate in good number it can br more popular, he said. 

The MLA also asked to develop technologies on cleaning and waste management.