Key Details
The Department of Pharmaceuticals, Invest India and the Asia Pacific Medical Technology Association (APACMed)outlined priorities for the next phase of India's MedTech strategy through a new partnership and CEO Roundtable.
Priority Area | Key Development |
|---|---|
Government–industry partnership | Invest India and APACMed signed an MoU to strengthen collaboration on investment, innovation and MedTech growth. |
Value addition | Government aims to raise domestic value addition in high-end medical devices and imaging equipment from around 25% to 40–45%. |
Manufacturing strategy | Greater emphasis on domestic production of components, reagents and diagnostics rather than only finished products. |
Investment and innovation | Partnership will support investment facilitation, research, technology transfer, regulatory engagement and digital health. |
PLI roadmap | Government is exploring the next phase of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Schemefor medical devices. |
Industrial ecosystem | Discussions highlighted resilient supply chains, local sourcing, Global Capability Centres (GCCs), skilled workforce and stronger research collaboration. |
India's MedTech Strategy Is Moving Up the Value Chain
India's medical-device industry has expanded rapidly over the past decade, supported by growing healthcare demand and manufacturing incentives. The next phase of policy, however, places greater emphasis on where value is created. Rather than measuring success primarily through final-product assembly, the Government is seeking to increase domestic capabilities in high-value components, imaging technologies, diagnostics and specialised manufacturing, enabling Indian firms to capture a larger share of the MedTech value chain.
Manufacturing Alone Will Not Build Global Competitiveness
The Government–industry partnership extends beyond attracting investment into factories. The roadmap links manufacturing with research, technology transfer, regulatory engagement and digital health, recognising that internationally competitive MedTech industries depend on innovation ecosystems as much as production capacity. Collaboration with APACMed is intended to strengthen these capabilities while encouraging global companies to expand higher-value activities in India.
Resilient Supply Chains Are Becoming an Industrial Priority
The CEO Roundtable highlighted domestic sourcing of components, reagents and diagnostics as critical to reducing import dependence and improving supply-chain resilience. Participants also emphasised the importance of Global Capability Centres (GCCs), research and development, skilled talent and closer collaboration between government, academia and industry. These capabilities are increasingly viewed as essential for integrating Indian manufacturers more deeply into global MedTech value chains.
The Next Phase of Industrial Policy Is Taking Shape
The Government's indication that it is exploring the next phase of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Schemesuggests that policy support is likely to evolve alongside the sector. Future growth is expected to depend less on expanding manufacturing volumes alone and more on encouraging innovation, domestic value addition and technological capability across the MedTech ecosystem.
What Is APACMed?
The Asia Pacific Medical Technology Association (APACMed) is a regional industry association representing medical technology companies across the Asia-Pacific. It works with governments, healthcare providers and industry to promote innovation, regulatory collaboration and wider access to medical technologies.
Policy Relevance
Shifts industrial policy towards domestic value creation: Greater emphasis on components, diagnostics and specialised manufacturing can increase India's share of value within global MedTech production.
Links manufacturing with innovation: Investment, research, technology transfer and regulatory collaboration are positioned as complementary drivers of industrial competitiveness.
Strengthens supply-chain resilience: Expanding domestic production of critical inputs can reduce import dependence while improving manufacturing security.
Signals continued policy support for the sector: A potential second phase of the PLI Scheme indicates that MedTech remains a strategic manufacturing priority.
Builds a broader innovation ecosystem: Stronger collaboration between government, industry, academia and Global Capability Centres can accelerate product development and workforce capabilities.
Supports India's ambition to become a global MedTech hub: Higher domestic value addition can improve export competitiveness while strengthening healthcare manufacturing under Viksit Bharat@2047.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How can India move beyond assembling medical devices to building globally competitive capabilities in high-value MedTech manufacturing, innovation and research?
Follow the Full News Here: Government and Industry Join Hands to Accelerate Investment, Innovation and Manufacturing in India’s MedTech Sector