Investors will only introduce manufacturing technologies in India if the policy environment is stable and aligned with the National Medical Devices Policy 2023.
Medical device industry associations criticized the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on Friday for permitting the import of refurbished and pre owned medical devices claiming it undermines the interests of companies committed to local manufacturing.
The PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) and the Association of Indian Medical Devices (AiMed) along with the Manufacturers of Imaging Therapy and Radiology Devices Association (MITRA) the Association of Diagnostic Manufacturers of India (ADMI) and other key MedTech stakeholders have requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi intervention in the matter.
The Office Memorandum (OM) issued by the MoEFCC undermines the National Medical Devices Policy 2023 which was launched by the Prime Minister last year. The OM permits the import of pre owned medical equipment into India jeopardizing the investments made by Indian and foreign manufacturers under the Make in India initiative which risk becoming non-performing assets stated AiMeD Forum Coordinator Rajiv Nath.
Investors will only introduce manufacturing technologies in India if the policy environment is stable and aligns with the National Medical Devices Policy 2023 which is intended to be binding on all government departments he added.
Many recently initiated projects for high-end medical equipment are now jeopardized putting patient safety at risk Nath said.
India is being viewed as a dumping ground for e-waste with outdated equipment being resold in the country while overseas manufacturers benefit by doubling their sales first through replacement sales to hospitals in the Western world and then through the sale of pre owned equipment to India he stated.
This severely undermines the domestic industry which is still in its early stages. India must not become a dumping ground for obsolete medical equipment Nath emphasized.
Atul Sharma Co-Founder of Innvolution Healthcare remarked that India vision for a self-reliant healthcare system depends on promoting local innovation.
We urge the government to prioritize domestic manufacturers and consult CDSCO data to avoid unnecessary imports that impede industry growth he added.
In a similar vein Sequoia Healthcare CEO & MD Viswanathan Santhanagopalan noted that hospitals and diagnostic centres charge patients the same fees regardless of whether they use new or refurbished equipment meaning no cost benefit is passed on to patients while outdated technology is utilized.
PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry Assistant Secretary General Shalini Sharma stated that the import of refurbished medical devices presents challenges for domestic manufacturers many of whom are members of the chamber.
