India is extensively using space applications and infrastructure for healthcare, particularly in surveillance systems and sequencing. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has put up surveillance units in 600 districts, according to Dr NK Ganguly, director, ICMR.

He said that space and satellite research are being used for prediction and warning of outbreak of infectious diseases including rota virus, tuberculosis and influenza.

Geographical Information System (GIS) and mathematical modeling can trace vectors in every nook and corner of the country. This aids telemedicine and tele-epidemiology efforts, said Dr Ganguly.

ICMR has sequencing facilities for dreaded diseases like polio. “Every incidence of polio virus is sequenced. If the virus goes to China, we will know that too, stated Dr Ganguly.

According to Dr A Mitra, director, department of science and technology a hi-tech co-operation group was looking at developing technologies for healthcare, especially in areas that were earlier under the US sanctions like space, nuclear missiles and defence.