What happened
The Government implemented schemes under the Department of Pharmaceuticals to promote indigenous manufacturing of high-end and high-precision medical devices, including incentives for incremental sales, support for Medical Device Parks, and strengthening of the overall medical device industry through sub-schemes for clusters, import dependence reduction, capacity building, clinical studies support and promotion.
Background and earlier position
The Department of Pharmaceuticals supports the medical device sector through incentive-based manufacturing promotion and enabling infrastructure. Medical Device Parks and cluster-level common facilities are designed to address constraints such as testing/sterilisation capabilities and prototyping support, while targeted sub-schemes aim to tackle import dependence for high-precision instruments.
What changed now
The Government’s published scheme-wise numbers cover outlays, approvals, reported investments, and central releases/utilisation as of FY 2024-25. The publication also specifies the category of PLI applicants, the profile of MIS-RID beneficiaries for high-precision instruments, and the broader context of MediTech foreign direct investment inflows.
Related current affairs
- PM shares an article highlighting India’s self-reliant med-tech ecosystem (domestic manufacturing; reduced import dependence; PLI; Medical Device Parks)
- Steps to reduce import dependence: PLI schemes for pharma/medical devices, urea self-sufficiency measures, and NBS policy actions for P&K fertilizers
- Update on incentives disbursed under PLI Schemes for Pharmaceuticals, Bulk Drugs and Medical Devices
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- Marathoner-technocrat who gave new direction to Tatas (Natarajan Chandrasekaran)
- The MS ME opportunity lies in clustering them
