Indigenous equipment for mass newborn care: a successful partnership of the health profession and the industry

Since newborn deaths account for more than half of infant mortality, newborn care is a key health priority for the country of India. Among the more important equipments required for newborn care at the primary and the secondary levels are the following: resuscitation bags, oxygen head-boxes, open care radiant warmers, incubators, phototherapy units, baby weighing scales and vital sign monitors. For a long time, all these items were required to be imported. National Neonatology Forum (NNF), the apex academic body of neonatologists in India, has been systematically working with industry to promote the indigenous production of neonatal equipment. NNF has conducted a survey of equipments available in various centres in India (1988); organised a Workshop on 'Equipment for neonatal care: a need for self-reliance' (1989); prepared a monograph on 'Biomedical Equipments: status and perspective' (1990); worked with Department of Science and Technology and the Department of Electronics in various committees to promote the R & D effort; and organised panel discussions with industry participation at its annual conferences in Manipal (1990), Trivandrum (1992) and Madras (1994).