The growing demand for radiologists in the primary healthcare centres and in leading corporate hospitals in the country is motivating Teleradiology Solutions, Carestream Health India and GE Healthcare to train radiologists, technologists and IT personnel involved in healthcare.

While Teleradiology recently opened 'Rad Gurukul' the first ever teleradiology training centre in India at Whitefield, Bangalore, GE Healthcare has a Radiology application trainers programme.

The GE Healthcare training service is provided to radiologists and technicians using specific applications and technologies. The company also brings in experts from the US, UK and France to conduct short duration training programmes and workshops. All these are directed at improving the skills of radiologists and technicians. "We are recommending a hub and spoke model where a radiologist can support multiple centres or provide his assistance via tele-radiology", sated V Raja, president and CEO, South Asia, GE Healthcare Technologies.

Present availability of radiologists in India is just 10,000 for one billion population. In the US, for 250 million people there are 25,000 radiologists.

Going by the healthcare demand in the country, there is a serious need to increase the skilled radiology personnel supported with technologists and IT healthcare workforce.

In this regard, Teleradiology Solutions is gearing up to train around 400 specialists annually on a not-for-profit effort. The offering is a two year post graduate diploma courses free of cost. It will also provide a week long course for doctors and IT healthcare focused personnel on picture archival, and teleradiology aspects. There will also be two-day short term courses on related radiology and teleradiology. The key objective is to augment the number of radiologists and arm them with the required skills, informed Dr Sunita Maheswari, director, Teleradiology Solutions.

As technology advances and high quality imaging equipment becomes more widely available, radiology training is a major concern to health care providers and equipment suppliers, sated Dr Maheshwari.

Carestream Health India has a comprehensive portfolio of medical imaging and healthcare IT products, services, and solutions. It is known for its advanced x-ray films, laser films, computed radiography systems and medical laser printers. It also offers training and development programmes for radiology professionals in India, including orientation courses, student workshops, patient awareness campaigns in breast cancer awareness. The company also publishes a medical journal called 'The Radiograph', stated Dr Mohan Nadkarni, director and country business manager, Carestream Health India.