Medical devices policy must encourage local manufacturing: AiMeD, MTaI 

New Delhi: Medical devices industry on Thursday asked the government to facilitate local development and manufacturing of such equipment under the proposed National Medical Device Policy (NMDP).

Industry bodies including AiMeD and MTaI as well as other stakeholders held discussions with government officials under an initiative by Department of Pharmaceuticals, which sought their views on the draft NMDP.

"MTaI hopes that the NMDP will facilitate the development and manufacturing of those products which can be made in India, the import of those products which cannot be made here at a cost which is not prohibitive," Medical Technology Association of India (MTaI) said in a statement.

It further said that steps should be taken for continued FDI and inflow of technology, besides leading to increased R&D investment and activity.

Healthcare worker training increased patient access to quality healthcare and demand generation must also be given importance in the proposed policy, it added.

Expressing similar views, AiMeD Forum Coordinator Rajiv Nath said the proposed policy must expedite medical devices law to regulate all devices and ensure that traders of the devices do not pass themselves off as manufacturers.

He also said AiMeD has suggested the introduction of price cap mechanism on ex-factory/import landed price in a phased manner while measures must be taken to disincentivize exorbitant MRP.

"We are happy that productive discussions took place and hope based on inputs an updated draft policy will be finalized next week for enabling other stakeholders like NGO's, healthcare care providers, consumer groups and insurance companies to be involved for consensus", Nath said.