New Delhi
The Indian government introduced the MedTech Mitra platform on Monday as part of a strategic initiative to empower the country’s MedTech innovators and reduce dependence on imported medical devices. Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, speaking at the inaugural event, emphasized that MedTech Mitra is designed to support young talents in the country by providing guidance for their research and assisting them in obtaining regulatory approval. Applauding the efforts of innovators and youth, Mandaviya highlighted the significant power among researchers and startup enthusiasts in India. He stressed that with assistance at the approval stage, India can achieve wonders, advancing towards self-reliance (Atmanirbhar) and realizing the vision of a developed India (Viksit Bharat). Noting that India’s MedTech sector is 80% dependent on imports, the minister stated that this collaborative initiative aims to facilitate the indigenous development of affordable, quality MedTech devices and diagnostics, significantly reducing dependence on imports in this sector. Mandaviya underscored the sector’s essential role in India’s healthcare system and its significant progress with the implementation of production-linked incentive schemes, investments in medical drug parks, MedTech research policies, and MedTech research incentive schemes. Expressing confidence in the sector’s growth, Mandaviya stated, I am confident India will grow to become a $50 billion industry by 2030. He highlighted the rapid changes in the medical device sector due to developments in areas such as robotics, artificial intelligence, big data, virtual reality, and nanotechnology. Backing the growth potential of the Indian medical devices industry, the Union Health Minister, supported by the government’s commitment to facilitating growth, stated that the sector has the potential to emerge as a powerful leader in innovation in the coming years.
