Indian Medical Parliamentarians’ Forum Organises National Policy Summit on ‘Swasth Bharat Se Saksham Bharat’ to Reimagine MedTech Access in India

The first panel, “Building a Sustainable and Globally Competitive MedTech Ecosystem,”examined the enabling ecosystem required to support indigenous medical technology development and global competitiveness. The discussion covered areas including research and innovation, regulatory and quality frameworks, industry-academia collaboration, domestic manufacturing capabilities, supply-chain resilience, clinical requirements and the creation of an ecosystem that could support Indian MedTech companies in addressing both domestic and global healthcare needs. The panel was chaired by Dr Shivaji Bandappa Kalge, with Shri Manoj Joshi serving as Co-Chair. Dr Vibhav Garg, Moderator, Meril, moderated the discussion, which also featured Prof. (Dr.) Prashant P. Joshi and Dr Neha Dumka as panellists.

The second panel, “Expanding Access to Quality Care through MedTech Innovation,” focused on the factors that determine whether medical technology can translate from innovation into meaningful patient access. The discussion examined clinical evidence, health technology assessment, financing and reimbursement, technology adoption, healthcare workforce capabilities and the challenges of extending advanced technologies across different levels of the health system. The panel was chaired by Dr Jashvantsinh Parmar and moderated by Dr Sharmila Sarkar, with Dr Gaurav Shanker Pradhan, Dr Shailesh Kumar Yadav and Dr Suchita Markan participating as panellists.

Speaking at the summit, Dr Anil Sukhdeorao Bonde, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha and Chairperson, IMPF, said, “Innovation without access has limited impact, and access without evidence cannot be sustained. For India to build a globally competitive medical technology ecosystem, we need stronger indigenous research and development, credible clinical evidence, appropriate health technology assessment and sustainable reimbursement mechanisms. Manufacturing must be supported by the right clinical skills, infrastructure and technical ecosystem, particularly as advanced technologies such as robotics become more accessible. Our ultimate objective must be Indian innovation, global-quality technology and affordable access for every patient who needs it.”

Shri Manoj Kumar Joshi, Co-Chair and Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, emphasised the need for a strong medical device ecosystem focused on quality, evidence, global standards, domestic manufacturing and supply chains.

Dr Prashant P. Joshi highlighted stronger collaboration between medical and engineering institutions to address unmet clinical needs, while Dr Gaurav Shanker Pradhan stressed competency-based training and digital learning for effective technology adoption.

Dr Shailesh Kumar Yadav, IAS, Joint Director, National Health Authority, emphasised clinical evidence, financing and reimbursement for sustainable access to medical technology. Dr Neha Dumka highlighted cost-effectiveness, scalability and sustainability, while Dr Jashvantsinh Parmar called for stronger grassroots capabilities and data-driven technology evaluation.

Dr Shivaji Kalge highlighted the growing capability of Indian medical device manufacturers to develop affordable, globally competitive technologies.

The summit also featured senior representatives from MoHFW, DGHS, NHA, government medical institutions, clinical experts and industry associations.

The discussions focused on indigenous innovation, regulation, clinical adoption, training, financing, reimbursement and equitable access to medical technology, particularly in underserved areas.