New Delhi: A number of industry bodies of the domestic medtech industry raised serious concerns on recent Office Memorandums issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), the Directorate General of Heath Services (DGHS) and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), permitting the imports of refurbished and pre-owned medical devices. There is no shortage of such devices in the market, and similar devices are being manufactured in India. Such imports are not allowed for say the automobile sector or even iPhones. The memoranda by the MoHFW, MoEFCC and DGHS allow for predatory market practices by international companies that are essentially dumping their used medical hardware in the country.
The press conference was held by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) that has been working closely with small and medium-sized manufacturers for over 190 years, the Association of Indian Medical Devices (AiMed), the Association of Diagnostic Manufacturers of India (ADMI) and other stakeholders in the MedTech Industry. The industry leaders indicated that the permission to import pre-used, refurbished devices is a significant threat to the self-reliance in medical device manufacturing in India, and undermines the ‘Make in India’ as well as ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives.
Obsolete medical equipment compromises safety of patients
Dr Sudhir Srivastava, Former Chair of the Medical Devices Committee at PHDCII said, who returned from US as a top surgical surgeon to set up his own Indian surgical robotic platform said, “Allowing the influx of refurbished medical equipment undermines India’s progress in medical technology and sends a mixed message to investors. As Indian manufacturers are investing in Research and Development, and innovating high-tech solutions aligned with the ‘Make in India’ vision, refurbished imports not only compromise quality of care but also disincentivize investment in homegrown advancements. Overseas companies may view India as a market to recover Research and Development costs, but for us to truly lead in healthcare innovation, our policies must safeguard and prioritize our own ecosystem of excellence, ensuring patients receive the best care without compromising the integrity of the Industry.”
The memoranda permit for the imports of obsolete devices that may be third or fourth-hand, not just second-hand used devices. There are only certifications for the devices, which use outdated technology, and have not been tested or evaluated in India according to Indian standards. The devices are essentially being dumped into India, cannot be easily serviced, and there is no provision for the countries that export this junk to India to take them back at the ends of the product life cycles. The international manufacturers are resorting to pushing refurbished used devices because they cannot compete with the prices offered by locally manufactured devices made according to the requirements of domestic healthcare requirements.
The refurbished devices have short lifespans and higher maintenance costs
Shalina Sharma, Assistant Secretary General of the PHC Chamber of Commerce and Industry said, “PHDCCI acknowledges the government’s commitment to advancing healthcare. However, the import of refurbished medical devices poses challenges for domestic manufacturers, many of who are members of the chamber. We seek to collaborate with the government to foster a fair marketplace for Indian-made products, reinforcing the spirit of ‘Made in India’ and Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.
