Medical-equipment maker Trivitron Healthcare will set up an institute to train paramedical staff and doctors to use sophisticated medical devices.

“With rural health the problem is more of skill than access or affordability of quality equipment, and the company is doing this to fill the gap,” said Dr G.S.K Velu, Founder & Managing Director, Trivitron Group.

Several doctors and para-medical staff aren’t qualified to use medical equipment, so they learn on the job at hospitals and this brings a risk of error, he pointed out.

The Trivitron Skill Development Institute for Medical Technology will be set up initially in Chennai, Bangalore and Pune, and the company will over time, open centres across the country. “We will have skill labs where doctors can come and practice the procedures,” Dr Velu said

The institute will conduct 3-month, 6-month and 1-year courses on using medical equipment and conducting basic procedures. It will, for instance, conduct a ‘renal-care physical course’ after which a doctor will be skilled enough to man a dialysis unit, Dr Velu said.

The company is in talks with several universities to work on this project, and is considering roping in the National Skill Development Corporation as well, Dr Velu said. Trivitron Healthcare will float a special purpose vehicle (SPV) for this and it will be run by a different management team.

Trivitron, which is at present funded by HSBC Private Equity and ePlanet Ventures, is in the process of raising a third round of private equity funding for this project, Dr Velu said.

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