Development of Molecular Diagnostic Innovation System in India: Role of Scientific Institutions

The study attempts to examine the system-building activities of scientific institutions in developing the Molecular Diagnostic (MDs) Innovation System in India. Scientific Institutions are the precursor of any technological development with their capabilities in generating new ideas. MDs are advanced and accurate diagnostic technology with considerable scope to serve the diagnostic needs and requirements of the healthcare system. We adopted a System framework and analyzed the development of MDs in terms of the Technological Innovation System (TIS) functions, and the systematic challenges are assessed through the System Failure Framework (SFF). Based on the secondary and primary survey of prominent science base actors, the study finds that the role of government is crucial for facilitating technological development within a science base through the mobilization of resources. In India, the MDs technological development gained significant momentum over the last decade with the development of specialized human resources and dedicated research institutes. However, we do find that the innovative capabilities in attaining need-based TIS are sub-optimal owning to the specific diagnostic needs of highly burdened diseases in the society. The system analysis reveals that the TIS functions are underperforming because of the absence of a well-defined funding mechanism and goal-oriented targeted policy regime of the government. Since MDs have a transformative effect on the present healthcare system, we argue that the government has to address the system-based challenges and issues for developing a need-based technological innovation system for MDs in the country.