With the number of cases of coronavirus reaching 20,000 marks in India. The healthcare sector has a major challenge in managing and providing essential medical facilities for the treatment of corona patients. The startups are playing a vital role in fighting against the COVID-19 crisis in India. The Action COVID-19 Team (ACT) has been formed by the startup founders, members of investment advisory firms, VCs to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. The ACT will provide a grant of total INR 100 crores to the startups working in the field like prevention of COVID-19 spread, testing and medical devices, management of a critically ill patient, healthcare support to hospitals and doctors. As of now, six startups have received grants to manufacture medical equipment such as diagnostic kits, ventilators, and personal protective equipment (PPEs).
Here are the description of healthcare startups-
MyLab
MyLab is a Pune-based startup and is the first to manufacture an indigenous COVID-19 testing kit in India, working on the South Korean model to curb coronavirus by widespread testing. MyLab received a grant of INR 1 Crore from the ACT to manufacture a diagnostic kit. The kit named MyLab PathoDetect COVID-19 got commercial approval from Indian FDA. It also received recommendations from the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR).
Ethereal Machines
Ethereal machines are Bengaluru-based startup secured a grant of INR 50 lakh from the ACT to manufacture ventilators. The increasing cases of coronavirus will boost the demand for the number of ventilators in hospitals as India has only around 40,000 to 50, 000 ventilators. To meet the demand of ventilator, Ethereal Machines is providing a unique ventilator splitter with an aim to manage two patients simultaneously with varying needs.
Karkhana.io
Karkhana.io is a Mumbai-based startup that received a grant of INR 20 lakh from ACT to manufacture PPEs. PPEs are the first line of defense for doctors and health workers treating coronavirus patients. Karkhana.io uses technologies like 3D printing, injection molding, machining, fabrication, and design facility to manufacture PPEs on a large scale.
CoronaSafe
CoronaSafe Network is a Kerala-based startup provides live data systems that track the total number of admissions in hospitals at the unit level on the ground or aggregate level at village panchayat, district or state level. CoronaSafe Network has secured a grant of INR 50 lakh from Act and Chief minister office (CMO) of Kerala has also backed this project.
Fashinza
Fashinza provides a demand-supply matching platform for all PPEs by connecting the PPE manufacturer and third-party logistics to meet the shortage of raw material. PPEs are the first defense equipment from coronavirus for doctors and healthcare workers and meeting the shortage of PPEs is the major challenge. Fashinza has received a grant of INR 20 lakh from ACT.
COVID-19 Helpline
COVID-19 Helpline is a cloud telephony solution to several state governments, it helps the different state governments to run their helpline number even when the number of calls increases. The startup has received a grant of INR 25 lakh from ACT.
