GE Healthcare, a unit of General Electric company, has launched its latest ‘In India, For India’ innovation – MAC i. The ECG (electrocardiogram) product has the potential to reduce the ECG cost for a patient to as low as Rs 9, according to the company.

Part of GE’s ‘healthymagination’ initiative, the new MAC i is available to physicians at Rs 25,000. This is half the cost of MAC 400, the ECG system that GE introduced earlier, which cost about 1/3rd the price of similar imported systems.

“We are seeing a tipping point in healthcare today and believe technical innovations can drive solutions and value for our customers. We are developing at least 100 innovations that will reduce the cost of procedure, increase access and improve quality. Tomorrow, they will be used everywhere in the world – just like our ‘In India, For India’ products – MAC 400, Lullaby baby warmer,’’ said V Raja, president & CEO, GE Healthcare South Asia.

The product is simple to use and capable of completing 500 three-channel ECGs or 250 single channel ECGs for every three hour battery charge, which equals one month of operation in a village where availability of electricity is a major constraint. The product is particularly suited for rural India where healthcare is delivered through primary health clinics.

GE Healthcare is offering financing solutions for the product. It has signed an agreement with SBI Credit Card to make the purchase possible through credit card. Cardholders of SBI Card can enjoy zero per cent financing options.

The product will be available through GE Healthcare’s website as well as its call centre. A physician or hospital will have to spend only Rs 27 per day as EMI to own MAC i over a three year period, allowing ECG at a cost as low as Rs 9. GE Healthcare also launched the Indian expansion of its $1.5 billion global healthcare IT business on Monday, pledging to offer healthcare connectivity and resources to a country that has severely lagged behind in this key area of healthcare delivery.

It plans to offer managed solutions and new internet-based picture archival and communication system. This is aimed at helping increase access and bridge the acute shortage of trained healthcare professionals.