India is set to unveil its first indigenous Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanner, which will be installed at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi by October 2025. This initiative aims to reduce MRI costs for patients by approximately 50%, while also decreasing the country's reliance on imported medical equipment and enhancing public access to essential imaging services.

The development of the MRI scanner is seen as a significant step towards achieving an Atmanirbhar Bharat, or self-reliant India, according to Dr. M Srinivas, Director of AIIMS-Delhi. Currently, a majority of healthcare equipment in India, including MRIs, is imported. The indigenous machine will allow for better comparison with global standards and facilitate necessary improvements based on clinical feedback.

AIIMS-Delhi has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology's (MeitY) Society for Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering and Research (SAMEER) for the installation of the 1.5 Tesla MRI scanner. Once validated for clinical use, the scanner is expected to make MRI diagnostics more affordable and accessible to a wider population.

Additionally, the Union health ministry is working on establishing norms for the validation of MRI scanners, which will allow for their use in clinical trials. SAMEER is also developing a 6 MEV Linear Accelerator for cancer treatment, further contributing to India's healthcare capabilities and reducing import dependency.