Sh Manoj Joshi, Secretary, DoP calls for Export-Oriented, Globally Competitive Medical Device Manufacturing
White Paper on Strengthening Service and Maintenance of Medical Equipment Unveiled
Government, Industry and Regulators deliberate on Greater Domestic Value Addition, Innovation and Integration with Global MedTech Value Chains
The two-day9th edition of India Medical Device 2026kicked off today at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, bringing togetherpolicymakers, regulators, industry leaders, innovators and other stakeholdersto advance India’s medical devices sector and strengthen its position as a global hub for quality medical devices. The conference is being organised by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Government of India, in association with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), on the theme“Towards Viksit Bharat: Advancing India as a Global Hub for Quality Medical Devices.”
Addressing the inaugural sessionShri Manoj Joshi,Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticalsemphasised that the medical devices sector needs to be viewed from both healthcare and industry perspective. While healthcare providers focus on access to quality devices irrespective of their origin, domestic manufacturing is critical for generating employment, strengthening industry capabilities, and ensuring supply chain resilience especially during global disruptions,” he added.
The Secretary said that India has made significant progress in local manufacturing, particularly in consumables, disposables, and the assembly of high-end equipment including diagnostics and imaging systems. There is a need to deepen domestic value addition, strengthen component manufacturing, promote innovation in advanced medical technologies, and continuously enhance quality standards to build globally competitive manufacturing capabilities, he added.
Stating India must move beyond import substitution approach, the Secretary said that we need to build an export-oriented industry that serves global markets. While the Indian medical devices market is valued at around $16 billion, the global market exceeds $600 billion, offering immense opportunities for Indian manufacturers. To realise this potential, it is essential to strengthen domestic component manufacturing, deepen value addition, facilitate seamless cross-border movement of components and products, integrate India into global value chains, and foster stronger partnerships between startups and large industries so that innovations can successfully reach the market,” he added.
Dr Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi, Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI),stated that India’s medical devices sector is undergoing a fundamental transformation from an import-driven market to a domestic manufacturing-led ecosystem. He highlighted the need to strengthen indigenous capabilities in high-endClass C and Class D medical devices and in vitro diagnostics, while ensuring faster, transparent and predictable regulatory approvals.
Shri Tushar Sharma, Chair, FICCI Medical Devices Committee and Managing Director & GM, India & South Asia, Abbott Healthcare, said that beyond technology introduction, the industry has made substantial investments in India through R&D centres, Global Capability Centres, software and engineering hubs, clinical research, manufacturing, service networks and workforce development. These investments, he said, not only strengthen patient care but also contribute to creation of skilled jobs, developing local capabilities and positioning the country as an increasingly important hub for global MedTech operations.
Ms Jyoti Vij, Director General, FICCI, said that the next phase of growth will be defined by India’s ability to foster innovation, strengthen research and development, build resilient supply chains, develop advanced manufacturing capabilities, promote globally harmonised quality standards, leverage digital technologies and expand India’s footprint in international markets.
Shri Bharath Sesha, Co-Chair, FICCI Medical Devices Committee and MD, Philips Indian Subcontinent, stated that the deliberations during the inaugural session reinforced India’s immense potential to emerge as a global leader in the medical devices sector.
A key highlight of the opening day was the unveiling of the White Paper:“Strengthening of Service and Maintenance of Medical Equipment in India,”which calls for a robust and sustainable service and maintenance ecosystem to ensure thesafety, reliability, longevity and uninterrupted performanceof medical equipment across the country.
