Technology integrated medical care has potential to increase efficiency in patient care. This is a crucial development that has allowed the medical field to take positive strides in healthcare and improve lives. Affordablity, and accessibility are some of the few factors, the medical industry in India needs to focus on. Naoshi Kikumoto, at Olympus medical Systems expands more on the importance of pivoting to tech-integrated healthcare for the medical industry. Along with this, briefly discusses the importance of versatility in the long run.
1. How do you stay up to date with the latest advancements in medical technology to ensure your products remain cutting-edge and versatile?
We at Olympus work closely with leading healthcare professionals to understand their challenges in patient care, specifically in the domain of Gastroenterology, Respiratory, Urology, General surgery, ENT, and gynecology, so that we can produce technology and solutions that address the needs of the healthcare professionals.
Olympus engages with various clinical societies and attends their programs, which is like a launch pad for our technologies and serves as a point of contact wherein healthcare professionals can share their ideas and expectations with us.
2. What is your company’s overall vision for the future of medical devices, and how do you plan to maintain and enhance their versatility in the long term?
At Olympus, we are committed to our purpose of making people’s lives healthier, safer, and more fulfilling. Our R&D team is in regular touch with the clinical experts in each field that we operate in to take their feedback on the development of existing products and bring in new features that add clinical value to the upcoming product line. This helps in early detection, diagnosis, and minimally invasive treatment, aiming to improve patient outcomes by elevating the standard of care in targeted disease states.
3. How do you handle the lifecycle management of your medical devices, including updates, replacements, and eventual disposal?
Medical devices have a finite lifespan due to technological advancements. During our inception time, when the products are rolled in, we take regular feedback from clinicians through an organized process. These updates are used to upgrade existing products or develop new products and technologies based on the scalability of the existing devices and their use. Obsolete products and technologies are then discontinued, and they are well planned. This involves informing customers well in advance, offering support for transitioning to newer models, and ensuring that replacement parts and servicing remain available for a reasonable period, so that this is not sudden, and users get adequate time to shift to newer technologies based on the better clinical outcomes that the new devices promise.
Managing Director,
Olympus Medical Systems India Pvt Ltd.
4. How do you ensure the safety and effectiveness of your medical devices?
Ensuring the safety and effectiveness of medical devices is a critical aspect of our business. We follow our internal Regulatory and Compliance as per the national regulatory norms set for the safety, quality, and performance of the devices. We rigorously follow Quality Management Systems (QMS) at each step of conceptualization, prototype, and commercial production as well as post-production, which ensures that all processes involved in the design, manufacturing, testing, and distribution of medical devices are standardized and monitored for compliance with regulations and quality standards. Olympus follows Risk Management, Post-Market Surveillance, and post-launch collaborates with Healthcare Professionals and Educational bodies for Training and Education, which ensures that the devices are used correctly and safely.
