Introduction
The healthcare and medical device sectors have grown significantly in the last decade. There is a huge gap in the current demand and supply of medical devices in India and this provides a significant opportunity for manufacturing devices in India.
India has the lowest per capital spend of US$ 3 on medical devices among BRIC countries such as China (US$ 7), Russia (US$ 42) and Brazil (US$ 21). At present, many medical device manufacturers (domestic and international) are chasing this massive under penetration of medical devices in India as a significant growth opportunity.
Market Size
India is among the top 20 global markets for medical devices; the market is expected to increase at a 35.4% CAGR to reach Rs. 352,450 (US$ 50 billion) in 2025 from Rs. 77,539 crore (US$ 11 billion) in 2020.
The medical devices sector in India comprises large multinationals and small and midsized companies.
The Government of India (GOI) has commenced various initiatives to strengthen the medical devices sector, with emphasis on research and development (R&D) and 100% FDI for medical devices to boost the market. From April 2000 to June 2020, FDI inflows in the medical and surgical appliances sector reached US$ 2.13 billion.
Export Scenario
India has a 75-80% import dependency on medical devices, with exports at Rs. 14,802 crore (US$2.1 billion) in 2019 and is expected to increase at a CAGR of 29.7% to reach Rs. 70,490 crore (US$10 billion) in 2025.
To increase export of medical devices in the country, the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) and Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) implemented the following initiatives: re-examination and implementation of Schedule MIII (a draft guidance on good manufacturing practices and facility requirements), system for export labelling, clinical evaluation and adverse reporting clarification, state licensing authority to extend free sales certificate validity from 2 years to 5 years to allow exports, create a list of manufacturers with export licensing for easy access by regulatory authorities worldwide.
Investments
To further incentivise investments in manufacturing medical devices, in May 2020, the government announced incentivisation plans of at least Rs. 3,420 crore (US$ 4.9 billion) over a period of five years, and these funds will be offered to manufacturers only if they invest in set-ups to manufacture key medical devices.
In May 2020, AiMeD (an Umbrella Association of the Indian Manufacturers of Medical Devices) invited Japanese investors who were interested in setting up a manufacturing base for medical devices (including medical electronics & IVD) in India. As a part of this initiative, India is targeting 1,200 technical collaborations with Indian investors for JPY 600 billion (US$ 5,746.7 million) and above, 200 joint ventures with foreign investors for JPY 200 billion (US$ 1,903.8 million) and above, and 50 MNCs for JPY 200 billion (US$ $ 1,903.8 million) and above.
Some major investments and developments in medical devices are as follows:
Government Initiatives
The Government of India has recognised medical devices as a sunrise sector under the ‘Make in India’ campaign in 2014.
Achievements in the Sector
In India, medical device manufacturing is costly because it requires high investments in scientific facilities. To combat this cost, the Government of Andhra Pradesh is establishing the Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone (APMTZ), which will house all capital-intensive scientific facilities, laboratories, etc., and will be leased to manufacturers in Vishakhapatnam. This initiative will help decrease the cost of good-quality products.
Road Ahead
Policy makers in India will need to set out an action plan to reduce the country’s dependency on medical devices/technology imports. At present, NITI Aayog is reportedly drawing up a strategic road map for medical devices similar to the incentive package that gives sizable capital subsidies for the electronics business, which helps boost local production of cell phones in the country.
Medical device companies should develop India as a manufacturing hub for domestic and international markets, undertake India-based innovation in combination with indigenous manufacturing, collaborate across the Make in India and Innovate in India schemes, and produce Low to Medium technology products to cater to the underpenetrated domestic markets.
References: Government Websites, Press Releases, Media Reports, Deloitte Report
Note: Conversion rate used for December 2020 is Rs. 1 = US$ 0.014
Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.
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