The minister of state for chemicals and fertilizers, Mr Hansraj Gangaram Ahir addressing at the release of the Report of Task Force on High End Medical Devices and Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Equipment in the Country, in New Delhi on April 08, 2015. The
The government is going to set up medical devices parks in the country, and first such park will come up in Gujarat soon. This was stated by the union minister of chemicals and fertilizers, Mr Ananth Kumar while releasing the recommendations of the Task Force on Promotion of Domestic Production of High End Medical Devices & Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Equipment on April,08 at New Delhi.
Mr Kumar mentioned that only 30 percent of the country's requirement of medical devices is being met through indigenous production, and that of low end category. The Minister said that the government is taking several steps to boost the domestic production of high end medical devices & pharmaceutical manufacturing equipment. He said that NIPER, Ahmedabad will be the nodal institute for undertaking research and development in the area.
Mr Ananth Kumar said that the recommendations made by the Task force will be implemented in a time bound manner. He said that the department has already taken up issues of incentives and taxation on such devices with the finance ministry so that the indigenously produced medical devices can compete with the imported ones. The minister said that the need is being felt to have a separate department to handle the issues of facilitation and regulation of high end medical devices & pharmaceutical manufacturing equipment, as their consumption is increasing very fast and there is need to make India self-dependent in the sector. He said that on the lines of National List of Essential Medicines, there should be a National List of Essential Medical Devices to enable providing affordable, quality products to masses easily.
The Task Force has given recommendations to address concerns and constraints facing the sector and suggested measures that would augment domestic production of medical devices. The Task Force has recommended measures to enhance policy and institutional support; suggested strengthening of infrastructural support; and, recommended fiscal and financial support to the sector. In addition, the Task Force has also recommended measures for creating an institutional set-up for efficacy & safety testing, promoting skill development aligned to the need of the industry, strengthening the R&D Capability of the sector, pricing strategy for the sector and conducive regulatory environment.
