Writes to the PM to change the name of Department of Pharmaceuticals to Department of Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices or for a Separate Department of Medical Devices
The Association of Indian Medical Device Industry (AiMeD) on behalf of the Indian Medical Device Industry has written to PM Narendra Modi requesting a Department of Medical Devices and a Ministry of Life Sciences / Healthcare Products.
Highlighting the urgent need for a separate department for medical devices, the letter from AiMeD requested the PM to change the name of the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) to Department of Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices or to have a separate Department of Medical Devices so that, the Manufacturers will be assured that the Govt is taking this Sector seriously as Medical Devices are not Pharmaceuticals, though both may be Medical Products. The current name reflects the focus on the mature sector of Pharmaceuticals and the ignored 80 per cent import-dependent sector of medical devices.
Rajiv Nath, Forum Coordinator, AiMeD said “India remains 80 per cent import dependent on medical devices. The Dept. of Pharmaceuticals and the Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers have so far had limited success to carry out the mandate given to them to boost the manufacturing of Medical Devices and address the 70 to 80 per cent import dependency and have limited expertise in this industry as the high precision device industry has very little synergy with Chemical & Fertilizers Industry.”
“The current team needs to be supported with required expertise by at least four people i.e. one each from the background of medical, biomedical engineering, product development and marketing with experience from DST / DBT / BIRAC / DHR / MOH&FW / BCIL / NHSRC / EEPC / IBEF may be considered,” said the letter.
The vision ahead for a separate department for medical devices is to make India one of the top five manufacturing hubs for medical devices worldwide and be the Nodal interface of the manufacturing industry with all Central Govt. Dept’s to catalyse the growth of the Indian Medical Device Sector – Make in India, Made by India & Made for India.
The separate Department would define Priority Devices to fight Priority Diseases. Implement a strategy to shift India’s import dependency from over 70-80 per cent to less than 30 per cent in the next five years for priority devices and the next 10 years for all devices.
The goal is also to create and manage a special purpose vehicle fund for the government to jointly own patents / IP’s shareholding and infuse $75 million or Rs 500 Crore as equity for long gestation R&D projects under Made by India & Make for India Projects for Enterprises with NIL Foreign Equity.
The remodelled department will facilitate the creation and development of clusters for medical devices, the creation of laboratories and service centres under PPP and the skill development of personnel in the field of manufacturing, sales, service and regulations.
The letter suggested that this department could be placed in the Ministry of Health as its extension with a Ministry of Health Care Products or Ministry of Life Sciences.
