Philips and Medtronic Collaborate to Enhance Structural Heart Imaging Skills in India
Bengaluru, India – March 3, 2025 – Philips, a leading health technology innovator, and Medtronic, a prominent medical technology company, have announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in India to train over 300 cardiologists and radiologists in advanced imaging techniques for structural heart diseases. This collaborative effort aims to improve the diagnosis and treatment of these conditions, particularly in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD).
The training program will encompass a combination of didactic sessions and hands-on experience utilizing Philips’ state-of-the-art ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems. The workshops will be led by recognized international and Indian experts. Fifteen key medical institutions specializing in structural heart procedures in India have been selected to host these educational workshops.
“Our focus is centered on providing better care for more people, and this partnership with Medtronic aligns perfectly with that goal,” stated Bharath Sesha, Managing Director, Philips Indian Subcontinent. “By promoting innovation and education in structural heart imaging across India, we aim to address the rapid advances in multi-modality imaging. Our objective is to empower clinicians with advanced techniques such as echocardiography and MRI, to enable more accurate diagnoses and better patient care, particularly for ESRD patients.”
Medtronic India’s Managing Director and Vice President, Mandeep Singh Kumar, emphasized the importance of the collaboration, saying, “This partnership signifies a significant step in our ongoing commitment to improve patient outcomes, especially for those with chronic kidney disease and ESRD. Through specialized training alongside advanced imaging solutions, we seek to provide healthcare professionals with the tools necessary to make transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) procedures more precise, and ultimately contribute to enhanced patient care.”
The prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in India continues to rise, with approximately 220,000 new cases of ESRD emerging annually. Furthermore, global studies indicate that advanced imaging technologies can benefit 9.5% of ESRD patients with Aortic Stenosis during transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). These factors have created a critical need for advanced diagnostic solutions and specialized training for clinicians.
Medtronic’s transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) system recently marked a significant milestone, celebrating 20 years since its first-in-human procedure in 2004. This anniversary highlights Medtronic’s long-term commitment to continuous innovation and commercialization in the field of cardiovascular care. Over the preceding two decades, Medtronic has launched a series of groundbreaking TAVR systems in India, consistently advancing minimally invasive heart valve replacement technology and enhancing patient outcomes, as noted in the communication.
Philips’ AI-driven software, capable of analyzing aortic anatomy using data obtained from 3D transesophageal echocardiography (3D TEE) and MRI, eliminates the need for radiopaque contrast agents. This advancement is particularly beneficial for safeguarding kidney health, since contrast agents can be nephrotoxic and can worsen kidney function in ESRD patients. The partnership will significantly improve patients’ quality of life and extend their lifespans due to the clinicians’ capacity to employ alternate imaging techniques.
