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 In order to address the issues related to the import of refurbished medical devices and the Central government's order suspending such imports, the Medical Technology Association of India (MTaI) has recommended limiting refurbishment of medical devices to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). It also urged the inclusion of medical devices into the Government of India's Electronics Repair Services Outsourcing (ERSO) scheme, which is envisaged to make India a global leader in electronics repair.
The association called for a collaborative policy framework that safeguards healthcare access, builds skills, and positions India as a global hub for medical device repair and refurbishment.
India’s healthcare, especially in tier 2-4 cities and rural areas, is under stress due to the suspension of refurbished medical device imports. Over 70% of facilities here are small private providers who rely on affordable pre-owned equipment like CT, MRI, and now even robotic systems, said the Association in a position statement.
MTaI chairman Pavan Choudary warned that prolonged suspension could harm providers and hurt jobs, and proposes interim imports with DGHS and MoEFCC approvals. He said that there is a difference between import substitution and import replacement. Import substitution, he explained, is usually government- backed driven by tariffs, non-tariff barriers, and subsidies - but often reduces competitiveness and efficiency. Import replacement, by contrast, is organic.
For instance, bicycle repair shops in Japan first repaired imported bicycles, then produced spare parts, and eventually made entire bicycles themselves. This process created an ecosystem that enabled giants like Honda and Toyota to emerge. When import replacement happens, jobs boom in cities while village economies also grow through demand for raw materials.
"Globally, pre-owned medical equipment accounts for 7-9% of needs in the US and EU, with countries like the UK, Japan, Canada, South Korea, and Australia already permitting such trade. To guarantee quality and patient safety, MTaI recommends limiting refurbishment of medical devices to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs)," said Choudary.
This ensures devices are updated by experts with genuine spares that meet strict regulatory standards. Pre-owned equipment with service guarantees can expand access and affordability, especially beyond metros, while also creating skilling opportunities in line with India’s ambition to export 2 lakh healthcare workers annually, he added.
Requesting the government to include medical devices repair in the ERSO scheme, the Association observed that the ERSO pilot in Bengaluru, involving Lenovo and Flex, demonstrated India’s competitiveness - cutting customs clearance from 10-15 days to 2-3 and enabling exports to the US and Europe. With the government targeting 20% of the $100 billion global repair market, medical device refurbishment presents a natural extension.
This expanded ERSO ecosystem can attract global expertise through technology transfer, establish India as a preferred destination for export growth, and develop sophisticated systems for component harvesting, it added.
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