Experts call for promotion of prosthesis and orthosis
Dr Ravinder Singh, senior scientist and program officer, disability, rehabilitation and assistive technology, ICMR, Delhi, addresses the national OPAI conference. Also seen are Ajay Chaudhary, general manager, ALIMCO, Kanpur, and Major B.V. Ram Kumar, director, NIEPID, Secunderabad.
HYDERABAD: The importance of prosthesis and orthosis in India and the psycho-social perspective of their users were elaborated deeply at the inaugural of a two-day national conference, under the aegis of Orthotics & Prosthetics Association of India (OPAI) at the National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (Divyang Jan) (NIEPID) in Bowenpally here on Saturday.
Speakers from across Japan, Australia, Russia and India gave their expert opinions on the subject, including the initiatives of the Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO) to reach a larger section through 100 centres set up across the country.
Earlier, Rajesh Agrawal, union secretary (DEPWDs), inaugurated the program in the presence of B.V. Ram Kumar, director, NIEPID, Dr Ravindra Singh, senior scientist, ICMR, and Ajay Choudhury, general manager, ALIMCO, Kanpur.
An exhibition displaying the latest technological components of artificial limbs and other appliances for persons with disabilities was also inaugurated on the occasion.
After Aratatran Patra from OPAI highlighted the evolution and growth of P&O in the country, two representatives from Instalimb India, Ayaka Dishi and Akshay Jain, spoke on ‘Industry 4.0 and the digital transformation of prosthetics in India and neurotechnologies for upper and lower limb prostheses with sensations’.
Also discussed were the role of additive manufacturing in accelerating P&O, rehabilitation approval to the upper limb, current concepts in design technology for prosthetic components development, the quality of life in persons with lower limb amputations and the status of prosthetics and orthotics education in India.
Several young students and entrepreneurs at the venue said that they were inspired to see the status and future potential of P&O.
“This will mark one of the noblest achievements of science. Research and development in this direction is booming and for good reason. It is the right time to invest and innovate,” said Kanika Mukherjee, an aspiring entrepreneur.
