|
The production linked incentive (PLI) scheme and the establishment of MedTech Parks are significant initiatives by the Union government aimed at fostering a self-reliant and innovation-driven medical technology ecosystem, said Anish Bafna, CEO & MD, Healthium Medtech.
India’s vision to grow its MedTech industry to $50 billion by 2030 is both ambitious and achievable. The policy direction for the sector is clear. With initiatives like Atmanirbhar Bharat, we are seeing serious commitment, he added.
At the same time, increasing insurance coverage, a growing middle class and the momentum around medical tourism are expanding the demand base. That said, the road ahead requires focused action. Regulatory streamlining, reduction in import dependency, investments in R&D and skilling of biomedical professionals will be key. What we need now is deep public-private collaboration to foster an integrated ecosystem from research to manufacturing to market access. With the right enablers, India is well positioned to emerge as a global MedTech hub delivering affordable and high-quality care, Bafna told Pharmabiz.
Our country’s Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities are central to the country’s health inclusion goals, yet they face systemic constraints in MedTech access. Despite government investments under the Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (AB-HIM), challenges persist from inadequate diagnostic equipment to weak referral systems and limited IT infrastructure. Medical devices often do not reach these markets due to high distribution costs, lack of service support and misalignment with local clinical workflows.
A related challenge is clinician capacity. According to WHO data, India faces a shortage of over 600,000 trained healthcare professionals in non-metro regions. Most clinicians in these areas also lack regular access to device-specific training or continuing education, limiting safe and optimal usage of even available technologies, noted Bafna.
Companies must respond with context-driven innovations, like rugged diagnostic tools, simplified user interfaces and battery-powered devices suited to variable power conditions. On the training front, we see strong potential in scalable digital learning platforms, hybrid CME models and localized skill development under initiatives like Skill India and PMKVY. Collaborations with nursing schools, medical colleges, and district hospitals will be critical to embedding MedTech adoption into everyday care delivery, said Bafna.
To this end, Healthium’s expansion has been powered by a clear and consistent focus on intellectual property, backed by deep domain expertise in wound closure, surgical consumables, and infection prevention. With over 85+ patents across US, Europe & India, we have built a robust innovation engine that aligns with the clinical, regulatory and cost expectations of diverse healthcare systems, he said.
In a competitive global landscape, our differentiation comes not just from what we make, but how we think: clinically grounded, operationally agile, and future focused. We remain committed to driving purposeful innovation that advances patient outcomes, empowers surgeons and expands access to quality care worldwide, said Bafna.
|