The Commerce Ministry data analysed by the Association of Indian Medical Device Industry (AiMeD) has shown that the imports of medical devices are up by record 41% at Rs. 63,200 crore in 2021-22 from Rs. 44,708 crore in 2020-21.

Speaking on the rise in imports of medical devices, Rajiv Nath, Forum Coordinator, Association of Indian Medical Device Industry (AiMeD) said “NITI Aayog and the Department of Pharmaceuticals recognises that Indian manufacturers have a 12-15 per cent disability factor in manufacturing medical devices in India. We urge the Govt. to neutralize this disability for reduction of medical devices imports in India as was in the case of consumer electronics, including mobile phones and even in the toy industry.

At present, the duty on Chinese imports ranges mostly from zero to 10 per cent, but the bulk of the items are in the 7.5 per cent category and one item at 25%.

Nath urged Department of Science & Technology (DST) & Department of Biotechnology (DBT) to seek correction of tariff to a nominal 15% because then only entrepreneurs can survive and have a productive relationship with Academic institutions for innovations in process & product development or incremental improvements in performance to become competitive.

He said that the Indian Medical Devices industry request the Govt. to expedite steps to end the 80% import dependence forced upon us and an ever-increasing import bill of over Rs. 63,200 crore, expedite steps for patients’ protection, stronger quality & Safety regulations, price controls to make medical devices and quality treatment accessible and affordable and ethical indigenous manufacturing viable The Healthcare Security of India is at very Risk.

“It’s a very alarming situation as the increase has been five-fold over a six-year period as India imported ₹12,866 crore worth of medical devices in 2016-17,” said Nath.

Despite Govt’s efforts to slow imports from China, sadly China remained the top import source for India as imports from China grew 48% from ₹9,112 crore in 2020-21 to ₹13,538 crore in 2021-22.

The medical device imports from the USA also increased steeply by 48% to ₹10,245 crore in 2021-22 from ₹6,919 crore in 2020-21.

The value of medical devices from China was nearly the same as the combined value of imports from Germany, Singapore and the Netherlands in 2021-22.

"GoI needs to take policy decisions as done for Mobile Phone & Consumer Electronic Industry to give level playing field, if not a strategic advantage to domestic manufacturers, while safeguarding consumers or India will remain 80% import dependent which is a high healthcare security risk,” Nath concluded.