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India is stepping up efforts to strengthen its medical devices industry, with Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal calling on manufacturers to develop high-quality medical devices for global customers and promising 100% government funding for the acquisition of advanced testing equipment.
Speaking at two pharma industry events in New Delhi on September 7, Goyal said the government is ready to support the creation of modern testing infrastructure that can help Indian medical device manufacturers benchmark their products against the best global standards, certify them and demonstrate their quality to international customers.
The initiative comes as India seeks to expand its domestic medical technology ecosystem and position itself as a competitive global hub for medical device manufacturing.
Government Offers Full Funding for Testing Equipment
Goyal said the government is prepared to provide 100% funding for the acquisition of testing equipment through the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
He called for industry stakeholders to submit proposals and demand the required infrastructure rather than waiting for government agencies to identify individual requirements.
The objective is to establish modern shared testing facilities where medical devices can be evaluated, benchmarked and certified according to international standards.
Such infrastructure could help manufacturers reduce the cost and time involved in accessing sophisticated testing facilities while improving confidence among international buyers.
Focus on Global-Quality Medical Devices
Goyal urged Indian companies to focus on developing medical devices that can compete in international markets rather than concentrating solely on domestic demand.
The government wants manufacturers to combine India’s cost advantage with stronger technology, quality and innovation capabilities.
A globally competitive medical device ecosystem could allow Indian companies to expand exports while attracting international manufacturers and technology partners to the country.
The minister also encouraged businesses to pursue technology partnerships, joint ventures and collaborations with global innovators and major pharmaceutical companies.
Shared Testing Infrastructure Could Strengthen India’s MedTech Sector
One of the biggest challenges for medical device manufacturers is access to sophisticated testing and certification infrastructure.
Advanced devices often require specialized testing before they can enter highly regulated international markets. Establishing shared facilities could therefore help smaller manufacturers and startups access equipment that may otherwise be too expensive to purchase independently.
The government’s proposed support could contribute to the development of laboratories capable of testing devices, comparing their performance against international benchmarks and supporting certification.
This could be particularly important for India’s growing medical technology sector, where companies are seeking to move from relatively basic products toward high-value and high-precision medical equipment.
Existing Government Schemes Support Medical Device Manufacturing
The latest announcement builds on several government initiatives already aimed at strengthening India’s medical device industry.
According to the Department of Pharmaceuticals, the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Medical Devices has an outlay of ₹3,420 crore and covers four major segments: cancer care and radiotherapy, radiology and imaging, anaesthetics and cardio-respiratory/renal-care devices, and implants.
The government said 27 applications had been approved under the scheme, including 14 from MSMEs. Approved projects have reported actual investments of ₹1,153.07 crore and have started domestic production of products including MRI and CT equipment, LINACs, mammography systems, C-arms, ultrasound equipment, heart valves and stents.
These developments indicate that India’s policy focus is shifting beyond simple assembly toward deeper domestic manufacturing capabilities.
Medical Device Parks Aim to Improve Testing and Infrastructure
India is also supporting the development of dedicated medical device parks.
The Scheme for Promotion of Medical Device Parks has an outlay of ₹300 crore and provides support for common infrastructure such as testing, sterilisation, warehousing, incubation and prototyping facilities. Central assistance can reach ₹100 crore per park.
Three medical device parks are under implementation in Noida, Uttar Pradesh; Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh; and Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu.
The development of such clusters could help manufacturers share infrastructure and build stronger supply chains while reducing the cost of developing and commercialising medical technologies.
Strengthening India’s IPR Ecosystem
Goyal also highlighted the importance of strengthening India’s intellectual property rights (IPR) ecosystem.
He called for improvements in areas including design protection, copyrights and patent laws so that international innovators see India as an attractive destination for technology development and investment.
A stronger IPR framework could encourage companies to invest more heavily in research and development while helping Indian manufacturers commercialise technologies for international markets.
For medical devices, intellectual property protection is particularly important because innovation can involve hardware, software, materials, manufacturing processes and clinical applications.
Global Partnerships Could Accelerate Medical Innovation
The government is also encouraging Indian companies to establish partnerships with global technology companies and pharmaceutical manufacturers.
Such collaborations could give domestic companies access to advanced technologies, engineering expertise and international distribution networks.
At the same time, international companies could benefit from India’s large talent pool, manufacturing capabilities and cost advantages.
Technology partnerships and joint ventures could therefore become an important route for India to move higher up the global medical device value chain.
India Targets a Larger Role in Medical Value Tourism
Goyal also linked the development of the healthcare and medical technology ecosystem to India’s ambitions in medical value tourism.
The government wants India to attract more international patients by offering high-quality healthcare at competitive costs.
A stronger domestic medical device industry could support that objective by increasing the availability of advanced equipment and encouraging innovation across hospitals, laboratories and healthcare providers.
According to the minister’s remarks reported by PTI, India is targeting 10 million medical value tourists annually.
Opportunities for Indian Medical Device Manufacturers
The government’s push creates opportunities for manufacturers across several areas.
Companies developing diagnostic equipment, imaging systems, surgical devices, implants, monitoring technologies and other high-precision medical products could benefit from improved testing infrastructure and policy support.
For smaller companies, access to shared testing facilities may be particularly valuable because purchasing advanced equipment independently can require significant capital investment.
Government-backed infrastructure could allow manufacturers to concentrate more resources on product development, engineering and commercialisation.
Quality Will Be Critical for Export Growth
While cost competitiveness remains an important advantage for Indian manufacturers, international markets increasingly require strict compliance with safety, performance and quality standards.
The availability of modern testing laboratories could help Indian companies demonstrate that their products meet those requirements.
This is important for companies seeking access to highly regulated markets, where medical devices must undergo detailed assessments before being approved for sale.
By strengthening testing capabilities domestically, India could make it easier for manufacturers to develop products with global markets in mind from the earliest stages of design.
Outlook for India’s Medical Device Industry
The government’s latest commitment signals a broader strategy to transform India into a global medical device manufacturing and innovation hub.
The combination of production incentives, medical device parks, testing infrastructure, clinical-study support, skill development and stronger IPR protection could create a more comprehensive ecosystem for the industry.
The immediate challenge will be turning policy announcements into accessible infrastructure that manufacturers can use efficiently.
If the proposed 100% funding for testing equipment translates into modern, widely accessible laboratories, Indian medical device companies could gain a significant advantage in developing and certifying products for international customers.
India is intensifying its efforts to build a globally competitive medical device industry, with Piyush Goyal announcing that the government is willing to fully fund the acquisition of advanced testing equipment.
The initiative is designed to help manufacturers benchmark products against global standards, improve certification capabilities and build confidence among international customers.
Combined with existing incentives for medical device manufacturing, medical device parks and support for testing and clinical studies, the move could strengthen India’s position in the global MedTech market.
For Indian manufacturers, the message is increasingly clear: develop high-quality products, invest in innovation, build global partnerships and use India’s cost advantage to compete in international medical technology markets.
