Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Mansukh Mandaviya, launched the National Medical Device Policy 2023 at an annual conference on Indian pharmaceuticals and medical devices in Delhi. The policy aims to regulate the medical device industry in India and ensure the production of high-quality medical devices.
In addition to the policy launch, Mandaviya also inaugurated the Export Promotion Council for Medical Devices and the Scheme for Assistance to Medical Devices Clusters for Common Facilities (AMD-CF). These initiatives are intended to promote the export of Indian medical devices and provide support to medical device clusters for the development of common facilities.
During the conference, Mandaviya released six reports on pharmaceuticals and medical devices, highlighting the importance of maintaining quality standards in the industry. He expressed his commitment to not compromising on the quality of medical products, as it could harm India’s growth, competitiveness, and reputation.
Mandaviya’s statement comes after India made quality checks mandatory for cough syrups exported from the country. Recent incidents in Gambia and Uzbekistan, where India-made syrups were linked to deaths, have raised concerns about the quality of Indian pharmaceutical products.
The Minister emphasized the need for innovation in the pharmaceutical sector and stated that India’s responsibilities as the “Pharmacy of the World” have increased. He called for industry cooperation to ensure the government’s actions in maintaining quality standards.
Kallam Satish Reddy, the Chairman of Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, echoed Mandaviya’s thoughts on the importance of innovation and setting ambitious goals for the pharmaceutical and medical devices industry. Reddy highlighted the potential for India to become a $65 billion industry by 2024 through self-discovery and marketing of drugs.
The conference, co-hosted by the Department of Pharmaceuticals and FICCI, aims to position India as a cost-effective and high-quality manufacturing and innovation hub for pharmaceuticals and medical devices. The event witnessed the presence of prominent dignitaries, government officials, industry representatives, and academic experts, who discussed various aspects of the industry’s development.
