Use of Biotechnology in Health Care

In this article we will discuss about use of Biotechnology in Health Care:- 1. Subject-Matter of Biotechnology in Health Care 2. Applications of Biotechnology in Health Care.

Subject-Matter of Biotechnology in Health Care:

The histrionic rate of advancement in biotech­nology has brought about a widespread revolution in the health care system. The discov­eries in molecular biology, genomics, cellular and tissue engineering, new drug discovery and delivery techniques, and bio-imaging hold the promise of improving health care by en­hancing the diagnostic capabilities and substantially expanding therapeutic options.

Hence, there is emergence of therapies that have a lot less side effects, vaccines which are safer than ever before and innovative diagnos­tic aids that are faster and smaller in size with warranted accuracy. Over the past decade, the pace of biotechnological research has markedly accelerated, while the scope and expenditures for the biotechnology research enterprises have increased substantially.

It has effectively enabled the scientists, researchers and physi­cians to work at the cellular and molecular lev­els to produce major benefits to life sciences and healthcare. Today approximately, 418 new biotech medicines and vaccines are being tested for more than 100 diseases, among which 210 to treat cancer, 50 to treat infec­tious diseases and 44 to treat autoimmune dis­orders.

In the next few years, the emerging field of Nano biotechnology will lead to new biotechnological based industries and novel approaches in medical practice. Biotechnology have opened up new doors when it comes to researching and learning more about the hu­man body and thereby is the key to many prob­lems related to health and well-being of the human beings.

Applications of Biotechnology in Health Care:

The medical application of biotechnology is often referred to as Red Biotechnology. Health care biotechnology uses chemistry of living organisms through molecular biology and cell manipulation to develop new or alternative methods in order to find more effective ways of producing traditional products.

Its integra­tion with nanotechnology, Nano-materials and information technology has led to the devel­opment of innovative and revolutionary appli­cations in health care. Nowadays health care Biotech products and techniques are being implemented in various areas of health care, including: biopharmaceuticals, drug delivery systems, diagnostic testing, tissue replace­ment, etc.

However, the realization of these applications immensely depend on variety of factors such as social and cultural acceptance of technological changes, infrastructure invest­ment in respective countries, market drivers and other structural determinants and the level of impact may also vary from developing and developed countries.

Conclusion:

Biotechnology is changing both the health care and its effective delivery in a profound way. No other industry is better placed to enhance quality of life and deal with the Challenges thus faced by the society of tackling an increas­ing population, health care choice, its affordability, resource efficiency, food security and environmental issues.

Health care biotech is already benefiting more than 350 million patients around the world through the use of biotech medicine to prevent and treat illnesses including heart attack, stroke, multiple scle­rosis, breast cancer, cystic fibrosis, leukemia, diabetes, hepatitis and other rare or infectious diseases.

It helps us to live healthier for a longer duration by providing us with enormous medical choices and solutions. Biotechnology has been used for more than 6,000 years for lots of interesting and practical purposes: mak­ing food such as bread and cheese, preserving dairy products and fermenting beer.

Although we do not always realize it, yet it is a huge part of our everyday lives, from the clothes we wear and how we wash them, the food we eat and the sources it comes from, the medicine we use to keep us healthy and even the fuel we use to take us where we need to go, biotech already plays, and must continue to play, an invaluable role in meeting our needs.

From new drugs that address our medical needs and fight epidemics and rare diseases, to industrial processes that use renewable feedstock instead of crude oil to lower the impact on the envi­ronment and crops that are able to grow in harsh climatic conditions and ensure safe and affordable food, biotech can and will pay eco­nomic, social and environmental dividends.

But for this to happen, the industry requires sound policy decisions that support innova­tions. At the same time it should be potent enough to generate a public awareness in the area of biotechnology. This will ultimately help in the creation of a healthier, greener, produc­tive and a sustainable economy.