India Targets Global Medical Device Leadership via Chintan Shivir Strategy

India's Department of Commerce has initiated a high-level Chintan Shivir—a traditional brainstorming and deliberation session—dedicated to fortifying the country’s medical device export ecosystem. This move signals a critical pivot in India’s industrial policy, transitioning from a heavy reliance on imports to becoming a net exporter of sophisticated medical technologies. As the global healthcare supply chain seeks diversification away from traditional manufacturing hubs, India is positioning itself as a reliable, high-quality alternative through aggressive regulatory reform and infrastructure investment.

The medical device sector in India is currently a 'sunrise sector,' valued at approximately $11 billion, with government projections aiming for a $50 billion valuation by 2030. Historically, India has faced a significant trade deficit in this area, importing nearly 75-80% of its medical devices, particularly high-end equipment like MRI machines, CT scanners, and robotic surgical tools. The Chintan Shivir serves as a collaborative platform where government officials, industry captains, and regulatory bodies can align on the goals of the National Medical Device Policy 2023. By focusing on 'Ease of Doing Business' and streamlining the export-import (EXIM) processes, the government aims to reduce the compliance burden that has previously stifled small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the med-tech space.

“

The medical device sector in India is currently a 'sunrise sector,' valued at approximately $11 billion, with government projections aiming for a $50 billion valuation by 2030.

Short-term implications of this session will likely involve the refinement of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes. These schemes have already seen success in the pharmaceutical sector and are now being tailored to high-risk medical devices, specifically those in Class C and D categories. Long-term, the establishment of dedicated Medical Device Parks—four of which are already in development across various states—will provide the necessary infrastructure, such as common testing labs and tool rooms, to lower production costs. This shared infrastructure is vital for Indian manufacturers to compete on both price and quality in strictly regulated international markets like the European Union and North America.