India has approximately 30,000 coronavirus patients coming in daily. According to MIT at this rate, we will witness nearly 2.87 lakh coronavirus patients daily by 2021. The numbers are absolutely petrifying. And the only solution to combat this pandemic, is to diagnose as many people, and as early as possible to break the coronavirus chain. Taking cognizance of the situation, our Indian scientists and engineers are hustling day and night to develop a testing kit. They’re keeping in mind the fact that India is a developing country. And to make the test kit available to every nook and cranny of the country, it has to be affordable.
Today, let’s all count our lucky stars because our engineers have done us proud! The HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and Minister of State Sanjay Dhotre today have announced the launch of the world’s most affordable coronavirus test kit, developed by engineers at IIT Delhi. The test-kit named “Corosure” will launch on wednesday. It’s the world’s most affordable probe-free RT-PCR based coronavirus diagnostic kit.
Launching the world's most affordable probe free RT-PCR based #COVID19 diagnostic kit, along with MoS for HRD Shri @SanjayDhotreMP ji. #AatmaNirbharBharat https://t.co/7u9dqR79W9
— Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank (@DrRPNishank) July 15, 2020
IIT Delhi engineers partnered with an Indian biotech company named Newtech Medical to develop a kit under the name “Corosure” which uses alternative testing methods to detect coronavirus.
Currently, coronavirus test kits cost a whopping Rs 2400. But according to the managing director of Newtech Medical, “Corosure” will cost only Rs 650, which makes it super-affordable! This is just a meager amount compared to the cost of the probe based test kits being imported into the country.
IIT Delhi Director V Ramgopal Rao said “This should change the paradigm of COVID-19 testing in the country, both in terms of scale and cost. The company Newtech MEDICAL devices, using IIT Delhi technology, can do two million tests per month at an extremely affordable cost. This is a true example of lab to market.”
Another good news is that “Corosure” is approved both by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Drug Controller General of India (DCGI). “Corosure” coronavirus testing kit is a true example of India’s sheer will and power to overcome the deadly pandemic. Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal lauded the team of IIT Delhi and Newtech Medical for this significant feat. Our scientists and engineers are on their toes, day and night to help India fight the pandemic. We can too play our part by being in charge of our actions, busting coronavirus myths and spreading awareness. India is truly on it’s way to create history!