Assam Chief Secretary Hails New IIT-Guwahati Initiative Bridging Medical & Engineering Fields

The initiative aims to leverage Assam’s resources and government support to tackle healthcare challenges through indigenous innovation.

Chief Secretary Ravi Kota has lauded the Assam Advanced Healthcare Innovation Institute (AAHII), a collaborative initiative between IIT-Guwahati and the Assam state government, which aims to bridge the gap between medical and engineering disciplines.

Speaking at a symposium on advancing healthcare innovation in Northeast India, Kota highlighted AAHII’s pivotal role in creating an ecosystem for indigenous healthcare technologies.

Organized by the AAHII and hosted by IIT-Guwahati, the event brought together doctors and scientists to explore the latest advancements in healthcare technology.

“By bridging the gap between medical and engineering disciplines, IIT-Guwahati and the Assam government are pioneering a model that unites academia, government, and healthcare professionals,” Kota said in his inaugural address.

The initiative aims to leverage Assam’s resources and government support to tackle healthcare challenges through indigenous innovation.

One of AAHII’s core objectives is to reduce dependency on imported healthcare technology and products.

To achieve this, the Assam government and IIT-Guwahati are working together on a state-of-the-art AAHII campus.

The upcoming facility will feature a 400-bed super-specialty teaching hospital, advanced research laboratories, and residential facilities.

This infrastructure will support the development of local healthcare solutions and reduce costs for diagnostic and treatment services in the region.

“The growth of institutions like IIT-Guwahati and AIIMS is transformative,” said Kota, emphasizing the significance of these partnerships for driving regional development and healthcare resilience.

IIT-Guwahati Director Devendra Jalihal highlighted the importance of involving healthcare professionals in research from the early stages.

By establishing a super-specialty hospital and advanced research facilities, the institute aims to lower healthcare costs and make quality services accessible to the community.

“With the Government of Assam’s strong support, this project aligns with our vision for a self-reliant healthcare ecosystem that addresses the nation’s most pressing health challenges,” Jalihal said.

He also underscored the project’s potential to foster affordable diagnostic tools, therapeutic solutions, and healthcare technologies specifically tailored to India’s needs.

Six Centers of Excellence to Drive Healthcare Innovation

The AAHII campus will house six centers of excellence, focusing on key areas including stem cell research, digital health, therapeutics, precision medicine, robotics, and affordable diagnostics.

These centers will drive targeted research and development to tackle complex health challenges and support advanced medical training and care.

Designed to address the specific healthcare needs of Assam and the broader Northeast, the super-specialty hospital on the AAHII campus will offer treatments such as robotic surgery, transplant procedures, gene therapy, trauma care, neonatology, neurosurgery, and complex cardiac care.