Hyderabad: Industries and IT minister KT Rama Rao unveiled medical devices developed by home grown companies Huwel Lifesciences, EMPE Diagnostics and Blue Semi. The State also entered into a memorandum of understanding with several companies to facilitate medical device testing and prototyping services to tenant companies at the Medical Devices Park, Sultanpur.
"I am delighted to witness yet another milestone in the medtech sector in Telangana with the signing of the MoUs for product testing and the launch of ‘Made in Telangana’ devices by our homegrown companies Huwel Lifesciences, EMPE Diagnostics and Blue Semiand. While collaboration for testing will enhance scaleup and growth, the launch of these innovative products is a testament to the vibrant medtech ecosystem in the State,” Rama Rao said.
Huwel Lifesciences, which is into in-vitro diagnostics and reagents, has a facility at the Medical Devices Park at Sultanpur. It developed two point of care testing (POCT) devices for testing infections and haemoglobin. Huwel has about 20 manufacturing licenses for various diagnostic kits and devices and is the largest supplier (5.4 crore tests in 25 states) of indigenously manufactured Covid RTPCR kits in India. “Huwel’s capabilities of indigenisation and scale up has been demonstrated by being the largest supplier of Covid RT PCR kits in the country with all components made in house in Hyderabad. Currently, we are making POCT devices from Telangana,” said Dr Shesheer Kumar, managing director and founder, Huwel Lifesciences.
EMPE Diagnostics has established a global production and R&D facility at Genome Valley. It invested about Rs 25 crore. The company developed an inexpensive diagnostic test kit to detect TB and its antibiotic resistance, which is first of its kind in the world. The test kit has received license from CDSCO and is ready to be supplied to TB clinics. EMPE Diagnostics is the first ever company to receive grants from European Innovation Council and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. “We currently have a capacity to make 25 million kits and will be expanding to 100 million kits soon. Our mission is to produce the kits in Telangana and supply them to the world,” said Raghavendra Goud, chief executive officer of EMPE Diagnostics.
Blue Semi launched EYVA gadget that can measure six body vitals in 60 seconds including blood glucose without a prick of the needle. With over 6.6 lakh scans so far, it has proven its effectiveness. "The nurturing atmosphere in Telangana has been pivotal in the advancement of groundbreaking health tech innovations like our EYVA gadget,” said Sunil Maddikatla, chief executive officer and founder, Blue Semi.
Several companies and startups based in Hyderabad are focused on building 3D-printed bionic arms, imaging systems, digital health solutions, mobile dialysis units and implants. Medical Devices Park offers facilities to support innovation, research and development, manufacturing as well as product testing, warehousing and logistics, and is now catching the attention of global investors also, with many lining up to establish their units in this facility. Companies like Medtronic, and B. Braun have already made Hyderabad their growth centre. Last month, Medtronic had announced Rs 3,000 crore (more than $350 million) investment to expand the Medtronic Engineering and Innovation Center (MEIC) in Hyderabad.
Industries principal secretary Jayesh Ranjan, Telangana Life Sciences chief executive officer Shakthi M Nagappan, Medical Devices Park vice president Paridhi Gupta were also present at the event.
