Industry voices concerns over import of refurbished medical devices

Medical device industry associations have criticised the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) for its recent decision to allow the import of refurbished and pre-owned medical devices, claiming it undermines the "Make in India" initiative and jeopardises investments in local manufacturing.

In a united front, the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI), the Association of Indian Medical Devices (AiMed), and other key stakeholders, including the Manufacturers of Imaging, Therapy and Radiology Devices Association (MITRA) and the Association of Diagnostic Manufacturers of India (ADMI), have appealed for intervention from Prime Minister Narendra Modi .

"The Office Memorandum issued by the MoEFCC contradicts the National Medical Devices Policy 2023, launched by the Prime Minister last year," stated Rajiv Nath, AiMeD Forum Coordinator. He emphasised that allowing imports of pre-owned medical equipment threatens the investments made by both Indian and foreign manufacturers committed to the "Make in India" initiative, potentially turning these investments into non-performing assets.

Nath warned that the unpredictability of the policy environment could deter investors from bringing essential manufacturing technologies to India, thereby jeopardising recent projects aimed at developing high-end medical equipment and risking patient safety. He highlighted concerns about India being viewed as a dumping ground for obsolete medical equipment, with overseas manufacturers benefiting from double sales—once through initial sales in Western markets and again through second sales to India.

Atul Sharma, Co-Founder of Innvolution Healthcare, urged the government to prioritise domestic manufacturers and consult data from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) to prevent unnecessary imports that could stifle industry growth. Viswanathan Santhanagopalan, CEO and MD of Sequoia Healthcare, echoed these sentiments, noting that hospitals charge patients the same fees regardless of whether they use new or refurbished equipment, resulting in no cost benefits while outdated technology is utilised. Shalini Sharma, Assistant Secretary General of the PHDCCI, added that the import of refurbished medical devices poses significant challenges for domestic manufacturers, many of whom are chamber members. The industry continues to call for policies that support local innovation and manufacturing in India’s healthcare sector.