Will make low-cost MRIs available: MoS IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar

The Ministry for Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Friday with Bengaluru-based Siemens Healthineers for the development of new, improved and innovative technologies for advancing healthcare and diagnostic access in India.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Rajeev Chandrasekhar, minister of state for MeitY, along with Hanumantha Rao, Society for Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering and Research (SAMEER), MeitY, and Dileep Mangsuli, Head of Development Centre, Siemens Healthineers.

Chandrasekhar said the MoU will make available low-cost Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRIs) for providing quality, and affordable healthcare and diagnostic access.


The minister said the government is prepared to partner with global companies willing to set up manufacturing bases in India. “We are also supportive of the R&D model based on co-development between global companies and India’s network of academic institutions,” he said.

SAMEER specialises in RF microwaves radar and communication systems, E3 testing and medical electronics.

The minister hoped that joint activities by MeitY and Siemens will improve access to MRI and linear accelerators (LINAC) in India.

"We have been pursuing research in advanced linear accelerators for cancer therapy and MRI systems for diagnostics, a fully funded research programme by MeitY. The partnership will help in creating local industry access for Siemens, and in turn, we will get access to next-generation research in advanced healthcare technologies," Rao told reporters.

Currently, SAMEER is developing an indigenous MRI technology named Sushrut.