PR No – 8
26th October, 2024
New Delhi
PHDCCI Calls for Government Support to Strengthen India’s MedTech Industry Amid Concerns Over Refurbished Device Imports
PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI), in association with AiMed, MITRA, and other key MedTech stakeholders, organized a press conference on 25th October, 2024 to discuss the recent government decision permitting the import of refurbished and reconditioned medical devices. Leaders from the MedTech industry raised concerns that this move threatens domestic manufacturers, undermines the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ visions, and may compromise patient safety.
The Office Memorandums issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) permit the import of these devices, despite the availability of similar products made in India. Industry experts emphasized that this policy could destabilize local manufacturing, discourage innovation, and impede India’s growth in the medical technology sector. They highlighted how refurbished equipment often does not meet the same rigorous standards as newly manufactured devices, posing potential risks to patient care.
Mr. Rajiv Nath, Forum Coordinator of AiMed, stated, “Allowing imports of refurbished devices undermines our national initiatives and places domestic manufacturers at a disadvantage. This decision risks turning India into a dumping ground for obsolete technologies while jeopardizing the hard-earned progress we’ve made in local MedTech manufacturing.”
Other speakers, including Dr. Sudhir Srivastava, Chairman & CEO, Sudhir Srivastava Innovations Pvt ltd. and Mr. Atul Sharma, Co-Founder, Innvolution Healthcare, echoed these sentiments, urging the government to reconsider the policy and protect India’s emerging MedTech industry. They called for a ban on imports of refurbished medical devices when similar products are available domestically and recommended stricter safety regulations to safeguard patient well-being.
Ms. Shalini S Sharma, Assistant Secretary General, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said, “PHDCCI acknowledges the government’s commitment to advancing healthcare. However, the import of refurbished medical devices poses challenges for domestic manufacturers, many of who are members of the chamber. We seek to collaborate with the government to foster a fair marketplace for Indian-made products, reinforcing the spirit of ‘Make in India’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat.”
The press conference emphasized the need to align government policies with national manufacturing goals and promote local innovations to ensure India’s leadership in the global MedTech space.
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Warm Regards,
Media Division
PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry