Varian Works with Sify Technologies to Host Data Remotely Across CTSI Network of Cancer Centers in India
HYDERABAD, India, June 21, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- In the first project of its kind outside the United States, Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR) is working with Sify Technologies to provide software-as-a-service (SaaS) to radiotherapy centers across India. The innovative service, which hosts oncology information and treatment planning software in the cloud and allows clinical teams to focus on treating patients, is being implemented as part of a multi-million dollar investment in treatment equipment and software across Cancer Treatment Services International CTSI's network of cancer hospitals in India and South Asia.
"CTSI is rapidly expanding its network across the region, and the cloud-hosted solution enables us to focus on delivering high quality, consistent care to our patients," said Vishal Bali, CTSI's Chairman. "Our flagship Hyderabad facility, operated under the name American Oncology Institute (AOI), is the first in India to implement this innovative solution for remote software hosting and better connectivity with our clinicians. These unique capabilities differentiate our hospitals and facilitate the use of evidence-based protocols and tools, such as cutting-edge treatment planning technologies, across the AOI network."
In line with a two-year implementation plan, the first three sites – including Hyderabad – are already clinical and other CTSI centers in India will follow suit in the coming months. It is the first SaaS project of its kind for Varian outside North America and forms part of a larger order from CTSI for 12 advanced Varian linear accelerators – including 10 top-of-the-range TrueBeam™ systems – to be installed at CTSI hospitals across the region.
Joe Nicholas, co-founder and executive director of CTSI, said, "We are delighted with how this project has come to fruition. It has been delivered on time and the result is very impressive. Our clinical teams now have access to a robust centralized electronic system and are no longer working in isolation."
"With a unique SaaS model such as this CTSI subscribes to the software, as part of the service packages provided by Sify that include all required IT infrastructure and hosting, rather than buying it," says Steve Laws, Varian's head of software sales in the EMEIA region. "It makes sense for them because as well as offering economies of scale, it means their clinical teams are freed up to focus on treating cancer patients."
Raju Vegesna, chairman of Chennai-based Sify Technologies, added, "Together with Varian, we wanted to build a solution that would eliminate many of the problems facing Indian hospitals, which tend to work in isolation. We have come up with a common platform stored in a private cloud, through which all practitioners in the network have instant access to all data. With this model, all radiation planning can be done remotely in a process that has been streamlined from disease detection to treatment. The local doctors have continuous peer group collaboration and knowledge sharing."
"With private storage, we never run short of space and no patient data is eliminated," he added. "We firmly believe this is how oncology treatment will be handled going forward in India and across South-East Asia. It is a complete break with the past and offers huge benefits. And if we can do this here, in India, we can do it anywhere in the world."
In the first quarter of its current fiscal year, Varian announced it had booked $18 million of a $35 million order from CTSI for the India project. "This is our first software-as-a-service project in the region and demonstrates our ability to meet the growing need from customers for cloud-hosted software solutions," said Varian CEO Dow Wilson.
About Varian Medical Systems
Varian Medical Systems focuses energy on saving lives and is the world's leading manufacturer of medical devices and software for treating and managing cancer. Headquartered in Palo Alto, California, Varian employs approximately 6,400 people at sites around the world. For more information, visit http://www.varian.com and follow @VarianMedSys on Twitter.
About Sify Technologies
Across 1400 cities in India, more than 9000 Enterprises access Sify's ICT services that's focused on the Data Center and Cloud platform and connected through a pan-India MPLS capable network. The services run the full gamut from Telecom connectivity services to Data Center transformation services along with Application and Security Services on the same infrastructure making it a truly converged ICT solutions and services provider in India. Sify also builds products that interface with multiple services in the ICT space; either built in-house or collaboratively with the best-of-breed solution providers. Sify Technologies and www.sifycorp.com are registered trademarks of Sify Technologies Limited.
About CTSI
CTSI is a leading provider of comprehensive treatment for cancer patients in emerging and frontier markets. Founded by physicians and businessmen with substantial experience in the development, operation and networking of cancer services, CTSI provides innovative and technologically-advanced treatment solutions through an IT-based model that allows integration and centralization of core services. The company began international operations at its flagship cancer hospital in Hyderabad, India, and is rapidly expanding a network of cancer hospitals across India and South Asia. For more information visit www.cancertreatmentservices.com.
Press Contact
Neil Madle
Varian Medical Systems
+44 7786 526068
[email protected]
Praveen Krishna
Sify Technologies Limited
+91 44 22540777 (ext.2055)
[email protected]
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