The Association of Indian Manufacturers of Medical Devices (AIMED) has teamed up with the Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone (AMTZ) and Quality Council of India (QCI) to form the Indian Bio-medical Skill Consortium (IBSC).

The development of biomedical skill sector in India received a major boost and the objective of the initiative is to understand and analyse the methodology of existing certification/licencing for clinical engineers or biomedical equipment technicians by institute / association in various countries and prepare a module to benefit Indian biomedical engineering professionals.

The proposed Skill Cell will be hub for both national and international BME students and engineers to learn and gain in-depth knowledge on all medical devices, calibration and relevant areas. IBSC will give recognition to Indian biomedical engineers based on their years of experience, education and competency levels. This will benefit to approximately two lakh biomedical engineers in India and 6,500 or more fresh graduates annually. International candidates are also eligible to take this exam.

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.

The tripartite memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by Rajiv Nath, forum coordinator, AiMED, Dr. Jitendar Sharma, MD & CEO, AMTZ and Dr. Ravi P. Singh, secretary general, QCI.

According to Nath, healthcare 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.

“The move 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/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,” he added.

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. 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 Sharma.

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.