More M.Tech seats to be created in medical engineering; The trade gap in medical devices will close in five years. peppermint

New Delhi: The government will launch M.Tech courses in medical engineering in premier institutes like IITs and NITs with an aim to create a pool of skilled talent for testing and operating high-tech medical devices and reduce import dependence in this key sector.

Other measures include increasing the number of seats for this course at the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) and funding the training of technicians at the premises of medical device manufacturers, Department of Pharmaceuticals Secretary Arunish Chawla said in an interview. ,

India has a $14 billion medical device market – the fourth largest in Asia after Japan, China and South Korea and among the top 20 in the world. But its share in the global market is only 1.5 percent. As per data available from the department, the government expects it to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 15%.

part of the plan

is part of the plan A Rs 500 crore scheme was launched earlier this month to boost the medtech sector. The department has started with 100 M.Tech seats in Medical Engineering at NIPER. Chawla said, there is a plan to double the seats next year.

The initial target is to train 1,000 technicians at commercial campuses.

The scheme supports setting up common facilities for medical device clusters. The government will also finance investments to reduce import dependence and support medical device clinical studies.

“Every high-tech industry is dependent on high-tech materials and intermediates. We need domestic investment to increase domestic value addition. Wherever marginal investment would reduce import dependence, we will provide one-time capital subsidy limited to 20% in relative terms and A total of Rs 20 crore,” the official said.

The scheme will complement India’s production linked incentives and help unleash the entrepreneurial spirit of Indian businesses in building self-reliance in key raw materials for pharmaceuticals and medical devices.

Chawla described the scheme as a post-PLI strategy for Make in India.

“The industrial ecosystem emerges from linkages and the most effective way to help businesses become world-class is to take care of their marginal needs and provide marginal incentives for common facilities like testing etc., which cannot be done internally within their plant boundaries. Can be done,” said Chawla.

in short supply

In particular, there is a shortage of medical device technicians in India.

“We are supporting all engineering institutes—IITs, NITs, technical institutes and NIPERs—to start M.Tech courses for medical engineers. NIPER is creating an enabling environment to take it up. NIPER has just started M.Tech courses, however, our capacity is 100. We are also identifying faculties for these courses. At present, this is the demand of the growing medtech industry. The scheme also provides for in-place training and skill upgradation for technicians, which means you can train your technicians at your premises without sending them anywhere and we will support them,” he said.

In FY24, India exported medical equipment worth so much While their imports stood at Rs 3,785 crore 8,188 crores.

“The gap between imports and exports has already started narrowing. With the support of the scheme, we hope to reduce the trade gap by 2030,” the Pharma Secretary said.

The scheme also supports clinical studies. He said, “The medical devices we are manufacturing at the level of international quality standards will be given some reimbursement to conduct clinical evaluation studies which will help them get statutory approvals and compete in the global market.”

He said that innovation is the biggest challenge for the pharmaceutical sector.

The government has completed around 50 PLI projects. The five largest of these were inaugurated by the Prime Minister last month, covering bulk drugs, complex generics, new formulations and medical devices.

“The plants to manufacture coronary stents, body implants and critical care equipment will help reduce import dependence in a sector that is critical to healthcare. All this production will be done as per international quality standards and will be export friendly,” Chawla said.