QCI, AMTZ & AiMeD launch Indian bio-medical skill consortium

Bengaluru: The development of biomedical skill sector in India has received a major boost with the formation of the Indian Bio-medical Skill Consortium in partnership with Association of Indian Manufacturers of Medical Devices (AIMED), Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone (AMTZ) and Quality Council of India (QCI).

The proposed objective of this initiative that was launched recently in Bengaluru is to understand and analyze the methodology of existing certification, licensing for clinical engineers or biomedical equipment technicians by the institute, association in various countries and prepare a module to benefit Indian biomedical engineering professionals.

The proposed Skill Cell will be a hub for both national and international BME students and engineers to learn and gain in depth knowledge of all medical devices and medical equipment’s calibration besides other relevant areas. Indian Bio-medical Skill Consortium will give recognition to Indian biomedical engineers based on their years of experience, education and competency levels. This is expected to benefit to approximately 2 lakhs biomedical engineers in India and 6,500 or more fresh graduates annually. International candidates are also eligible to take this examination.

The tri-partite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Mr Rajiv Nath (Forum Coordinator, AIMED), Dr Jitendar Sharma (MD & CEO, AMTZ) and Dr Ravi P. Singh (Secretary General, QCI)

The elated Mr Rajiv Nath, Forum Coordinator, AiMeD said “We are honoured to join hands with AMTZ & QCI. Health care industry is one of the major source of economy to our nation, this industry needs well trained and skilled engineers particularly in Medical Devices areas.”

“This initiative will help develop skill programs in the areas of Medical Devices and related areas that full fill the required manpower to hospitals, medical equipment companies and manufacturing industries. This will benefit the manufactures and industries by making available skilled manpower very easily who are well trained as per the requirements.”

“It will also create more job opportunities for our engineers across the globe. It will enhance the competitiveness and profitability of Indian medical device industry” added Mr Nath.

“Earlier a CT Scan manufacturer in India could not depute his engineer to EU or US to install, commission or service his equipment as his Indian employed engineer was not qualified or allowed to do so in a regulated Economy who had their qualification bodies to allow only their certified engineers. Now with this competency certification and international agreements we expect to have we will be able to support our exports as the above issue is acting as a Non-Tariff Trade Barrier,” said Dr Jitendra Sharma, Mg Director of AMTZ ( Andhra Medtech Zone).

IBSC proposes to develop an equivalence system of value-based assessment covering educational training, work experience and competency possessed by practitioners of biomedical engineering skills. To facilitate this a large number of assessment centres are being planned across several states in India where competency test on key bio-medical engineering skills could be undertaken by practitioners of bio-medical engineering from mechanical, electronic, electrical, health, IT, clinical and allied engineering subjects. The outcome – a competency score – shall be framed on parity with other such professional bodies in other countries. This equivalence score will help the Indian biomedical skill pool to gain formal recognition and acceptance of their experience and knowledge in other countries.

Along with representatives from AMTZ, QCI and AIMED, the first meeting of IBSC had representation from Kalam Institute of Health Technology (KIHT), IIT Guwahati (IIT-G), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Christian Medical College (CMC), Central Scientific Instruments Organisation (CSIO), Healthcare Sector Skill Council (HSSC), Society for Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering & Research (SAMEER), Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST), Panjab University, BSI Group, Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), TÜV Rheinland India and Phoenix Medical Systems.