Union Pharmaceuticals Secretary Amit Agrawal has urged all stakeholders to contribute to shaping India’s MedTech vision, calling for collaborative and concerted efforts across the value chain to realise the nation’s vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

Speaking at the 17th CII Global MedTech Summit in New Delhi, Agrawal highlighted India’s transformation into an emerging hub for medical technology.

Addressing medical technology stakeholders at the summit’s opening plenary, he noted that domestic demand for affordable and innovative healthcare solutions is “set to grow sustainably at double-digit rates of growth over the coming decades.”  

He stressed that the MedTech sector’s core mission must remain centered on patient well-being and developing high-quality, cost-effective medical devices for both domestic and global markets.

“Countries worldwide now look to India not only as a market, but as a leader in healthcare innovation. We must believe in our own capabilities and intensify industry-government partnership to realise the full potential of the MedTech sector,” said Agrawal.

Furthermore, Agrawal emphasised that, post-COVID, India has successfully crossed a significant milestone in domestic manufacturing of advanced equipment, including MRI and CT scan machines, mammography units, ventilators, stents, heart valves, dialysis machines, and a range of implant devices.

“Products that seemed impossible for local production a decade ago are now manufactured in India, demonstrating the country’s growing capabilities and innovation ecosystem,” he stated.

Highlighting the government’s support for the sector, the Pharmaceuticals Secretary referred to the three upcoming dedicated medical device parks expected to be functional in the coming year, support planned for their continued infrastructure upgrade, and the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Medical Devices as major policy steps propelling the industry forward.

The expansion of medical device park facilities, along with targeted policy initiatives like the PLI scheme and the Marginal Investment Scheme for backward integration, as well as the soon-to-be-launched INR 5,000 crore Promotion of Research and Innovation in Pharma MedTech Sector (PRIP) Scheme, are expected to strengthen the Indian MedTech sector. Collectively, these initiatives are set to enhance cost competitiveness, boost production efficiency, deepen the domestic value chain, and create a strong innovation ecosystem.

Agrawal said that these will enable India to not only meet its own requirements but also offer affordable, innovative healthcare solutions to the global North and South alike.

He called for deep collaboration among innovators, entrepreneurs, and investors to accelerate the journey of new ideas from laboratory to market, thereby strengthening India’s global competitiveness.  

Highlighting the ongoing economic reforms and international trade agreements, Agrawal added that the sector is poised to generate millions of new jobs while helping ensure accessible, high-quality healthcare for all.