India's First Indigenous MRI Scanner: Bengaluru Startup Cuts Costs, Boosts Access

• Bengaluru-based Voxxel Grids developed India's first fully indigenous 1.5-Tesla MRI scanner after 12 years of R&D, backed by Zoho.
• The Made-in-India MRI is installed at Chandrapur Cancer Care Foundation, marking a shift from import reliance in medical device manufacturing.
• Unique design eliminates liquid helium and costly AC, potentially cutting installation and operational expenses by 40-50% compared to imported machines.
• This innovation aims to expand diagnostic access in smaller cities and district hospitals, addressing India's limited MRI machines and high import dependence.
• While current capacity is 20-25 scanners annually, successful deployment and regulatory clearances are crucial for scaling up and strengthening domestic healthcare infrastructure.

Why It Matters: Indigenous MRI scanner by Voxxel Grids promises cheaper diagnostics, boosting healthcare access across India.