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Trends in Radiology

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Technology is ever evolving and innovations across sectors are spawned in the blink of an eye. These advancements are snowballing and creating a huge impact on global healthcare industry. For instance, a RedSeer report states, “Market for diagnostic services has been growing in India over the past couple of years at a rate of 15-20 per cent and is at nearly Rs 40,000 crores as of 2016.”

A crucial diagnostic tool

Radiology, a major diagnostic and therapeutic tool, is another major example. Digital technology is transforming and innovating in this segment at an exponential rate, be it machine learning, 3D printing, or Internet of things. These technologies are complementing healthcare in India by assisting the radiologists to ensure timely and accurate diagnosis. In many, cases, identifying ailments at an early stage provides better treatment outcomes to the patients.

Improving healthcare access

The doctor/ patient ratio is India is abysmal. Even more so, in the case of radiologists. In India, there is approximately one radiologist for every 100,000 population, compared to the US where the corresponding ratio is 1:10,000. Thus, the western countries are still better off when it comes to doctor/ patient ratio whereas the developing nations are in the direst need of assistance to make up for this shortfall. This is where technology rides to the rescue. To cite an example, teleradiology can redress the  acute imbalance between the demand and availability of diagnostic services, even in the remotest parts of the country. Even if it gives only a marginal relief at the moment, the benefits are bound to grow exponentially in the coming times.

Unlocking its true potential

In a bid to explore the new trends in radiology and understand where India stands in their deployment, Mansha Gagneja spoke to two experts, Dr Shankar Vangipuram, HOD, Radiation Oncology and Prashant Warier, Co-founder & CEO, Qure.ai.

While the former highlights the changing paradigm in treatment of moving cancers through 4D radiotherapy, the latter briefs on how automating the reads of X-ray, CT and MRI scans will aid in improving TB diagnosis protocol, so that more people can be detected.

4D images assist in analysis of deformation and motion
Qure.ai is focussed on automating reads of X-ray, CT and MRI Scans

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