Medical Device Sector Opposes Import Of Pre-Owned Devices

The PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry (PHDCCI), the Association of Indian Medical Devices (AiMed), the Manufacturers of Imaging, Therapy & Radiology Devices Association (MITRA), the Association of Diagnostic Manufacturers of India (ADMI), and other key stakeholders from the MedTech industry have opposed the move

The medical device sector is up in arms about the government’s decision to import refurbished and pre-owned medical devices. A number of industry associations regard this as a major setback for domestic manufacturing.

The PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry (PHDCCI), the Association of Indian Medical Devices (AiMed), the Manufacturers of Imaging, Therapy & Radiology Devices Association (MITRA), the Association of Diagnostic Manufacturers of India (ADMI), and other key stakeholders from the MedTech industry have opposed the move.

The office memorandums issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, & Climate Change (MoEFCC), the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), and the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) permit the import of refurbished and pre-owned medical devices, the MedTech representatives said. This, they added, undermines the nation’s efforts under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiatives.

PHDCCI assistant secretary general Shalini Sharma, 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 Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat."

The AiMeD has warned that imported refurbished devices are often inaccurately labeled, posing a significant risk to patient safety. The lack of clear refurbishment guidelines in India allows unscrupulous traders to import substandard equipment without proper oversight.

AiMeD forum coordinator Rajiv Nath rued the detrimental impact of this memorandum on local manufacturing, saying, “The Office Memorandum (OM) issued by the MoEFCC undermines the National Medical Devices Policy 2023, which was launched by the Honorable Prime Minister last year. The OM allows the import of pre-owned medical equipment into India, putting the investments made by Indian and overseas manufacturers under the Make in India initiative at risk of becoming non-performing assets (NPAs), some of which are ironically subsidized by the government of India under its PLI scheme.”

Dr. Sudhir Srivastava, past chair of the Medical Device Committee at the PHDCCI, highlighted critical concerns regarding refurbished medical devices. He said, “Allowing the influx of refurbished medical equipment undermines India’s progress in medical technology and sends a mixed message to investors. Overseas companies may view India as a market to recover R&D costs, but for us to truly lead in healthcare innovation.”

Atul Sharma, co-founder of Innvolution Healthcare Pvt Ltd, said, “As one of Asia’s largest Cath Lab manufacturers, we’ve developed equipment that meets global standards and suits India’s healthcare needs across all city tiers, ensuring cost-efficiency and reliability. Claims that refurbished equipment is more affordable for smaller cities are misleading. India’s self-reliant healthcare vision relies on fostering local innovation.”

Srinivasa Reddy, senior vice-pPresident of SS Innovations, said, “India is a global leader in the pharmaceutical industry. Similarly, the MedTech industry has a significant opportunity to integrate India into the global supply chain.”

Trivitron Healthcare group CEO Chandra Ganjoo said, “The import of refurbished medical devices will have a long-term impact on the Indian healthcare ecosystem and pose a direct threat to India’s vision of Aatma Nirbhar Bharat.”

Sequoia Healthcare CEO & MD Viswanathan Santhanagopalan said, “Hospitals and diagnostic centres charge patients the same fees, regardless of whether they use new or refurbished equipment, meaning no cost benefit is passed on to patients while outdated technology is employed.”

Allengers Medical Systems Limited director R S Kanwar said, “As a company committed to advancing healthcare technology in India, we strongly believe that the import of refurbished medical equipment poses significant risks to patient safety and healthcare quality. Refurbished machines often bring obsolete technology, unreliable performance, and a lack of compliance with modern standards.”