Dr Jitendra Singh: India Should Go Beyond ‘Made in India’ to Design, Innovate and Export MedTech

Summary:
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh has called on India’s MedTech industry to move beyond manufacturing and focus on designing, innovating and exporting medical technologies globally. With the sector expected to reach $20 billion by 2030, he stressed stronger integration of MedTech with digital health, AI and interoperable health data to improve healthcare access. Officials also highlighted the need for a suitable regulatory framework, greater domestic value addition through future PLI schemes and additional support for innovators, with the MedTech Mitra initiative receiving more than 850 applications. 

India’s MedTech sector needs to move beyond simply manufacturing products and focus on designing, innovating and exporting medical technologies globally, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said. He also stressed the need for closer integration between medical technology, digital health, artificial intelligence (AI) and interoperable health data.

India’s MedTech market is expected to reach $20 billion by 2030, offering the country an opportunity to expand its position beyond being a major consumer and manufacturing market.

Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, said India can simultaneously drive healthcare innovation while making emerging technologies more affordable and accessible.

Calling for greater ambition in the sector, he said India should progress from “Made in India” to “Designed, Innovated and Exported from India” in MedTech. He also pointed to the rapid expansion of the country’s digital health ecosystem.

“By August 2026, more than 96.43 crore Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts have been created, with over 5.47 lakh health facilities and more than 10.50 lakh healthcare professionals registered under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission. The next step is to ensure that medical technologies connect seamlessly with this digital ecosystem.”

He further said the convergence of MedTech, digital health, AI and interoperable health data has the potential to transform healthcare delivery and expand access across India.

Manoj Joshi, Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals, said India requires a regulatory framework aligned with its specific industrial and technological environment.

He also suggested that future Production Linked Incentive schemes could give greater importance to domestic value addition, with current beneficiaries expected to achieve 40-45%.

Dr Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi, Drugs Controller General of India, said MedTech Mitra, the ICMR-CDSCO initiative supported by NITI Aayog, has received more than 850 applications. He said the response highlights the need for more platforms to assist innovators in addressing regulatory and product-development challenges.