Mumbai : In a bid to reduce India’s dependency on imports for its medical device needs, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is set to join hands with domestic manufacturers to accelerate development of medical devices and diagnostic products and their scale-up, thus catalyzing their commercialization for public use.
The apex medical research body on February 21, 2022 invited Expression of Interest (EOI) from experienced Indian companies for collaboration in this regard. The last date for submitting EOI is March 15, 2022.
The Indian medical device market is currently valued at USD 11.2 billion and is experiencing a growth rate of 15 per cent CAGR and is poised to be USD 50 billion by 2025. India is dependent on imports for its medical device needs with about 80 per cent of medical devices being imported. In view of the huge import, dependency and long technology development cycle of medical devices, there is an urgent need for providing holistic support across the medical device development and commercialization cycle including R&D, scale-up, validation, regulatory compliance, market access etc.
To cater to the above challenges, ICMR has established Medical Device and Diagnostics Mission Secretariat (MDMS) at its headquarters with a vision to support and catalyze research, development and indigenous manufacturing of cost-effective medical devices to strengthen health care sector in India and reduce import dependency through a Mission mode consortia approach. MDMS will incentivize and motivate local manufacturing in India and provide holistic support to the technologies/ products nearing commercialisation.
The priority medical device and diagnostic products significantly contributing to imports were identified by ICMR under the PRoduct Ignition and Development Enabler (mPRiDE) program of MDMS.
Companies which have extensive experience and demonstrated capabilities in developing dialysis machines, ultrasonography, echocardiogram machines and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machines are encouraged to put-up their application under this program. The medical device technologies at an advanced stage of development will be supported through this program. Subject to the terms and conditions of an agreement, ICMR-MDMS shall support indigenous development, scale-up and pilots of Make-in-India manufacturing of critical medical devices and diagnostic products.
Based on the recommendations of the Expert Committee the applications for manufacturing Make-In-India products in dialysis machines, ultrasonography, echocardiogram machine and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machines categories will be duly considered for extending support.
The funding support under the present scheme is in the form of grant-in-aid. Extent of funding is up to Rs 1.5 crore based on merit.
