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Chief Minister inaugurates the MedTech Expo-2023 in Gandhinagar

Motivational presence of Union Health Minister Shri Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya (Minister for Health and Family Welfare)

Chief Minister :

• The pharmaceutical sector has embraced the path of self-reliance under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi
• The Make in India program has prioritized the manufacturing of medical devices and medicines in India
• Gujarat is a leading exporting state in the medicine and pharmaceutical sector.
• A Medical Devices Park and a Bulk Drug Park are being constructed in Gujarat.

Union Health Minister Shri Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya :

• Having been recognized as the ‘Pharmacy of the World’, India is poised to take the forefront in the medical devices sector and establish itself as a leader in manufacturing affordable, innovative, and high-quality medical devices.
• MedTech Expo 2023 is inspired by the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of making ‘Akhand Bharat’. It will be a unique, inclusive platform to showcase the capability and capacity of the Indian medical device ecosystem.
• The Export Development Council (Nikas Samvardhan Parishad) for Medical Devices and the Scheme to Support Medical Device Clusters are important steps taken by the Central Government to promote infrastructure development in India and strengthen testing facilities for medical devices.

Dr. VK Paul :

• The Indian MedTech sector has accelerated its growth and excellence and is now on the cusp of exponential growth in terms of quantity, quality, and its reach globally.

Gandhinagar, August 17: Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel inaugurated India MedTech Expo-2023, organised by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, FICCI, and the MedTech Industries Association of the Government of India, in Gandhinagar.

The exhibition is scheduled to be held from August 17 to 19, bringing together all stakeholders in the MedTech industries, including entrepreneurs, startups, hospitals, researchers, and investors, under one umbrella.

Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel, while inaugurating this exhibition, clearly stated that under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India has found the path of self-reliance (Aatmanirbhar) in the pharmaceutical sector.

In the inspiring presence of Union Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, while inaugurating the exhibition, the Chief Minister stated that the Prime Minister’s commitment to transform India into a developed nation by 2047 serves as a testament to India’s readiness to become a global MedTech hub.

He added that there was a time when health facilities and resources in the country were limited, and we had to depend on expensive equipment. Under the leadership of the Prime Minister, the country’s image has changed, and we have become self-reliant (Aatmanirbhar). Moreover, the manufacturing of medical devices and medicines in the country has been prioritised under the Make in India program.

The Chief Minister said that expensive health services, equipment, and medicines are now easily accessible to the common man and the poor and needy.
He termed the choice of Gujarat to host this MedTech Expo as the right direction and timely, adding that Gujarat is a role model for the country’s development. It is also a favoured destination for pharmaceutical sector industries. The construction of the Medical Devices Park in Saurashtra and the Bulk Drug Park near Ankleshwar is in progress.

Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel also provided details that Gujarat is a leading exporting state in the medicine and pharmaceutical sector. He added that Gujarat is a leader in the production of hi-tech cardiac stents. Gujarat accounts for fifty percent of the production of hi-tech intraocular lenses, and the state is also taking the lead in producing orthopaedic implant instruments.

The Chief Minister mentioned that Gujarat accounts for 30 percent of India’s total pharmaceutical manufacturing, and high-quality research and development facilities are also available in the state at a low cost.

He expressed the state government’s willingness to support the pharmaceutical industries in the state in order to provide more ease of doing business and a favourable environment.

Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel also invited the industrialists of the pharma-medical devices sector to participate in the upcoming Vibrant Summit-2024.

Union Health Minister Shri Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya :

“India has been recognised as the ‘Pharmacy of the World’. Now is the time for India to take the lead in the field of medical devices and become a leader in manufacturing affordable, innovative, and quality medical devices.” Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare and Chemicals and Fertiliser’s, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, said this today during his inaugural address at India MedTech Expo 2023, the country’s first medical technology expo, held in conjunction with the G-20 Health Ministers’ meeting in Gandhinagar. Shri V. K. Paul, Member of NITI Aayog (Health), and Shri Rushikesh Patel, Minister of Health, Government of Gujarat, were also present during this meeting.

Dr. Mandaviya said, ‘MedTech Expo 2023 is inspired by the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of making India ‘self-reliant’. It will be a unique, inclusive platform to showcase the capability and capacity of the Indian medical device ecosystem.’ He also emphasised that India is the fastest-growing medical device market among emerging markets.

The Union Minister said, ‘Our aim is to become self-reliant in the medical device sector and reduce our dependence on imports, which is fully in line with our vision of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India, Make for the World’. FDI up to 100 percent is allowed for the manufacturing of medical devices under the automatic route.’ He stated that ‘For the medical devices sector in India, the government under the able leadership of the Hon’ble Prime Minister has taken various measures by simplifying many regulations, facilitating ease of trade, focusing on technological advancement, and facilitating an investment regime, etc.’

Highlighting the new initiatives undertaken by the Central Government in this sector, Dr. Mandaviya said, ‘In addition to the National Medical Device Policy 2023, the government has recently launched an Export-Promotion Council for Medical Devices and a scheme to support the Medical Device Cluster. The country now has testing facilities for medical devices, which will promote and strengthen infrastructural development.’ He mentioned the launch of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme to promote domestic production of medical devices, with a total financial outlay of Rs 3,420 crore for four targeted segments of medical devices. He added, ‘We have also introduced the “Promotion of Medical Devices Parks” scheme, with a total financial outlay of Rs 400 crore for building common infrastructure facilities to promote manufacturing, innovation, research, and product development.’ He also informed that each of the states, namely Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh, has received final approval for financial assistance of Rs 100 crore under this scheme.

Dr. Mandaviya said, ‘India’s start-up ecosystem in the medical devices sector is diverse and vibrant, with more than 250 organisation’s engaged in innovating to solve critical health-related problems. The Prime Minister said, “Within 2-3 months of Covid-19, the world witnessed and recognised India’s efforts. Moreover, other countries received assistance with medical diagnostic kits, ventilators, rapid antigen test kits, RT-PCR kits, IR thermometers, PPE kits, and N-95 masks at a rapid pace.” The Union Health Minister also shared that the government is heavily investing in building better infrastructure, which will drive the demand for smart technology and advanced medical devices.

Dr. V. K. Paul emphasised, ‘The Indian MedTech sector has accelerated its growth and excellence and is now on a trajectory to rapidly grow globally in terms of quantity, quality, and reach.’ He mentioned that the central government’s policies are aimed at creating an ecosystem in the country that will drive India towards self-reliance in the health sector. He further highlighted that the newly launched PLI (Production Linked Incentive) scheme by the Central Government has played a pivotal role in promoting the production of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) for pharmaceuticals and medical devices alike.

He said the future lies in a partnership between industry and government towards making India a global hub for medical devices. He further said, ‘The future of medical devices is poised to undergo massive changes, driven by ongoing technological revolutions, miniaturisation of devices, integration with IoT, 3D printing, and customised medical devices.’

Smt. S Aparna, Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals, said, ‘The medical devices sector is one of the fastest-growing segments today. Recognising the potential of this sector, the Central Government has launched several schemes to boost the industry for domestic manufacturing of medical devices. These interventions have increased the local capacity of manufacturing medical devices, with 30 specialised products being manufactured in the country today, including high-end products such as CT scan machines.’

The dignitaries also unveiled the MedTech Expo Compendium, Future & R&D Pavilion brochure, and coffee table book on India’s pharmaceutical sector on the occasion.

Shri Raj Kumar, Chief Secretary, Govt of Gujarat; Shri S J Haider, Additional Chief Secretary, Industries, Govt. of Gujarat; Shri Kamlesh Kumar Pant, Chairman, National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA); Shri Tushar Sharma, Chair, FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry) Medical Device Committee; Shri Suresh Vazirani, Managing Director, Transasia Biomedicals and other delegates from the Government, Industry and Media were present on the occasion.

Source: Information Department, Gujarat