National Medical Devices Policy 2023

Suresh Vazirani
Founder Chairman,
Transasia Erba Group

The National Medical Devices Policy 2023, rolled out by the Indian government, is a historic move and a step in the right direction to achieve the vision of making India a global leader in the manufacturing and innovation of medical devices. It is a timely recognition of the necessity of medical devices in making India a healthy and happy country.

Medical devices sector has the potential to create much-needed millions of R&D and manufacturing jobs and make India Atmanirbhar by reducing India’s 80 percent dependence on imports. While the National Medical Devices Policy 2023 effectively recognizes the plethora of challenges faced by the medical devices industry, the next important step is to quickly implement this policy to make this crucial sector scale up R&D and manufacturing.

The world now awaits further steps from the Government of India to make this vision become a reality in a time-bound manner over the next three years. To make that happen, the government needs to provide adequate funding and support to the medical devices industry for research and development, innovation, and technology adoption. This will enable the industry to develop new products that are safe, effective, and affordable.

Secondly, the government needs to create an enabling environment for large-scale world-class factories by simplifying regulatory procedures, streamlining approvals, and providing incentives for innovation and manufacturing. This will attract both domestic and foreign investments in the sector, leading to the growth of the industry and creation of millions of jobs.

Finally, the government needs to invest in building the necessary infrastructure for the medical devices industry, including R&D facilities, testing labs, and manufacturing facilities. This will create jobs and generate economic growth, while also improving the quality of healthcare in the country.

I have full confidence that under the visionary leadership of our Hon’ble Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, and dynamic steering by our Health Minister, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, India, will soon rise to become a global leader in development and production of affordable medical devices.

Rajiv Nath
Forum Coordinator of Association,
Indian Medical Devices Industry (AiMeD)

Medical Devices Policy is a progressive step in propelling the country toward Atmanirbharta in the heavily import-dependent medical devices sector.

It’s an excellent and a great start! Many points are a broad stroke and not clearly spelled out, but that’s expected in a policy to give much-needed direction to over 20 stakeholder ministries and departments.

We hope for speedy implementation of the policy by actionable tasks as has been sought by the Parliamentary Health Committee and AiMeD to realize the Vision and Mission stated in the policy. The Parliamentary Committee had recommended a separate law, separate department, tariff correction and price control, and other measures, which if implemented will give direct benefit to consumer and industry. If the government acts like a doctor, the patient will not remain in the ICU but will step out healthy and laughing from the ward itself.

Thomas John
Managing Director,
Agappe Diagnostics Ltd.

The National Medical Policy 2023, which aims to make India a global leader in the manufacturing and innovation of medical devices, could bring several benefits to India including increased investment, improved access to medical devices, enhanced export potential, stronger healthcare infrastructure, and impetus to research and development in the medical devices sector.

The policy is expected to attract more investment in the medical devices sector in India, which could lead to the development of new technologies and products, as well as the creation of more jobs.

It could also help improve access to medical devices for patients in India, especially those in rural areas, by promoting the development of affordable and high-quality medical devices, which enhance patient safety, burgeon export, making India a more attractive destination for global medical devices manufacturers, and development of a stronger healthcare infrastructure in India.

Let me congratulate our great visionary, Hon’ble. Prime Minster, Shri Narendra Modi ji, and Hon’ble Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Dr. Mansukh Mandaya ji, for all whole-hearted support to the medical devices industry.

Dr GSK Velu
CMD, Trivitron & Jt. Coordinator IVD (Diagnostic Vertical Group),
Indian Medical Devices Industry (AiMeD)

It is heartening to see the release of Medical Devices Policy by the government. We do hope this gives the necessary impetus to reduce import dependency in the medical devices sector and make India a global medical devices manufacturing destination. If implemented along with preference for buying locally made products, I am sure the medical devices sector will grow like the pharmaceuticals industry in the next 10–15 years’ time frame.

Himanshu Baid
Managing Director,
Poly Medicure Ltd.

It gives me immense pleasure to welcome the GoI’s landmark release of National Medical Devices Policy, a game changer for India’s MedTech sector. India undoubtedly has the potential, which is now backed by a robust and coherent policy regime, aimed at streamlining regulatory processes fostering #EODB, adopting global standards, stimulating the development of local manufacturing, and improving competitiveness for the sector. Now is the time when India, leveraging the government support, industry participation, and the country’s talent pool, will achieve new heights in terms of manufacturing and accessibility of high-quality medical devices, and set new standards for healthcare innovations globally.

Steven Mou
Managing Director,
Mindray India

“The National Medical Devices Policy, introduced by the government, is the most holistic approach toward the development of the medical devices sector. India embarks upon a journey for the best-quality care for its citizens with manufacturing and innovation alongside international harmonization. The policy regime, which is aimed at streamlining regulatory processes with single-window clearances to building R&D and strengthening infrastructure, will take the medical devices sector by leaps and bounds.

The National Medical Devices Policy aims to strengthen the competitiveness of the sector, and alongside aims for a healthier India by leveraging international synergies, industry participation, and the country’s talent pool.

The policy aims to attract investment to develop new technologies suitable to the Indian dynamics, which will add value to the circular economy, with more job creation in the offing.

The policy clearly aims at increasing the affordability and accessibility of high-technology medical devices for Indian patients to build a future India, which is stronger and healthier.

We at Mindray India, as a trusted partner of Healthier Bharat, take this opportunity to congratulate the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi and Hon’ble Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Shri Mansukh Mandviya, for this novel path laid out for the medical devices industry.”

Alok Khanna
Head Sales & Marketing,
Medanta Hospital, Lucknow

The National Medical Devices Policy 2023 will improve patient outcomes by ensuring access to safe, effective, and affordable medical devices. It will promote patient-centred care and help enhance the quality of healthcare services in India. The initiative will also foster inclusivity by equipping the entire healthcare system with quality medical devices at affordable prices.

Sugandh Ahluwalia
Chief Strategy Officer,
Indian Spinal Injuries Centre

The National Medical Devices Policy 2023 is a significant development for India’s healthcare sector. This policy lays down a roadmap for the growth of the medical devices industry, and it is expected to have a transformative impact on the sector. It will help India emerge as a global leader in the manufacturing and innovation of medical devices, creating jobs, and promoting economic growth. National Medical Devices Policy 2023 is anticipated to help the medical equipment sector to register a massive growth, i.e., from USD 11 billion to USD 50 billion by 2028. Besides, the government is also keen to establish 157 nursing colleges by investing Rs. 1570 crore in collaboration with the existing government medical colleges. Moreover, the overall goal of National Medical Devices Policy 2023 is to create a robust paramedics infrastructure with adequate numbers of educated and trained nursing staff, and equip them with quality medical devices.

In addition, this policy will increase domestic manufacturing and lessen India’s reliance on imports. It aims to reduce India’s import dependence to nearly 30 percent in the next few years, and become one of the top five global manufacturing hubs.

Dr Anand Bansal
Medical Director,
Action Group of Hospitals

This policy will increase domestic manufacturing and lessen India’s reliance on imports. It aims to reduce India’s import dependence to nearly 30 percent in the next few years, and become one of the top five global manufacturing hubs.

This policy is a game changer for the medical devices sector. It will significantly reduce India’s dependence on imports and boost domestic manufacturing, providing a much-needed impetus to the sector. I am confident that this policy will help India achieve its vision of becoming a global medical devices manufacturing and innovation leader. The government is not just optimistic but proactive as well in this regard since the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for medical devices has already been implemented and has provided adequate financial assistance to establish four medical devices parks in Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh. So far, 26 projects have been approved under the PLI scheme with a committed investment of Rs 1206 crore, and Rs 714 crore of the total outlay has already been accomplished.

The National Medical Devices Policy 2023 will also improve access to medical devices and promote patient-centered care, enhancing the quality of healthcare services in India.

Baldev Raj
Managing Director,
Prius Communications & Healthcare

The National Medical Devices Policy 2023 supports medical devices manufacturers, benefiting hospitals with improved patient care, innovation, affordability, and self-reliance. Medical devices constitute over 50 percent of a hospital’s operational cost, and the policy aims to boost domestic production for affordability. The availability of advanced medical devices within the country will reduce the need for costly imports. Currently, India imports 70–80 percent of medical devices. The new policy would help in reducing imports and would make India a global manufacturing hub like pharma. With the new policy in place, foreign players in the sector would have incentives to collaborate with Indian partners with transfer of technology, and that would further boost the industry. Prius Healthcare has already facilitated several such partnerships and finds the policy very progressive in this context.