With the demographic transition underway in India, the elderly population is projected to rise to 12% of the total population by 2025. By 2050, with ~330 million Indians over the age of 60, every fifth Indian would be a senior citizen, which is equivalent to the total population of the US.
Future Trends in MedTech for Geriatric and Home-Based Care was the topic of an insightful session on the second day of the India MedTech Expo 2023, which showcased the myriad healthcare advances made possible by technology. Participants at the event, which was held at the Helipad Exhibition Centre in Gandhinagar, included government department representatives, ambassadors from other countries, and industry leaders in the medical technology, healthcare, and hospital sectors.
The elder care session was chaired by Dr. Vinod Kumar Paul, a member of NITI Aayog, and moderated by Pavan Choudary, head of the Medical Technology Association of India (MTaI). The event benefited from the participation of policymakers from the National Health Authority (NHA), the Gujarat Department of Health and Family Welfare, and the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment. Leaders in the industry from Antara Senior Living, ProTribe Senior Care Services Pvt. Ltd., Pristyn Care, Healthcare at Home, and Abbott Diabetes Care contributed their opinions to the discussion, raising its level.
Steering the discourse Pavan Choudary, Chairman of the Medical Technology Association of India (MTaI) said, “Earlier elders had much utility. They would not only babysit but also produce food, make tools, weapons, baskets, pots; they had knowledge of politics, medicine, religion, songs and dances. Their knowledge about rare events like epidemics, wars, because of the benefit of their years made them useful. But today, their utility has diminished as the repository of knowledge they carried is a click away and industrialization has catalysed the mobility of the young away from family professions and towards nuclearization of families. Their utility has diminished and so has their self-esteem.”
“The increasing healthcare and caregiving costs are making elders an expensive burden. Many caregiving children fall in the ‘sandwich generation’, with parents to care for on one side and their own children to care for on the other, added Choudary.”
Dr. Vinod Kumar Paul, Member, NITI Aayog, during the panel discussion, stated , “The aging demographic presents both a societal and governmental obligation to address the needs of the elderly population. A landmark study recently revealed that 43% of the elderly population would require one or more assisted medical device in the coming future. At present, the disability rate among individuals aged 60 and above surpasses 10%, emphasizing the significance of comprehensive support mechanisms. Within this context, there exists a promising trajectory for the advancement of assisted medical devices tailored to senior living. He also stressed that the industry should through its efforts address the specific needs of elderly women in India as well.”
Rajit Mehta, MD & CEO of Antara Senior Living, said, “It was apt timing to discuss how we can get better prepared for taking care of our elders. It’s a multi-dimensional issue with ‘capacity to serve’ and lack of ubiquitous financing options being key constraints. Very heartening to hear from Dr Paul and Shri Saurabh Garg that they are aware of the key issues and quite keen to collaborate with all relevant stakeholders to look at viable solutions.”
