From Import to Innovation: India’s Bold Step Towards Self-Sufficiency in MedTech
India’s medical device industry remains import-dependent, with over 80–85% of the country’s needs met through imports. In FY2023–24 alone, India imported medical devices worth $8.1 billion, while exports totaled just $3.7 billion, according to the Department of Pharmaceuticals’ 2024–25 annual report. This reliance not only drives up costs but also hinders the growth of a self-reliant medtech ecosystem.However, change is underway. AIIMS New Delhi is set to install the country’s first indigenously developed 1.5-tesla MRI machine by October. The project, a collaboration with SAMEER—an autonomous body under the Ministry of Electronics and IT—marks a major step toward strengthening domestic innovation in high-end medical technology.Voxelgrids Innovations: A Pioneer in Indigenous MRI MachinesBengaluru-based medical device maker Voxelgrids Innovations has already received a licence from the Central Drug Standards Control Organization (CDSCO) for commercial manufacture and sales of its MRI machines. The company's MRI machine can cost approximately 50% less compared to the value and performance of MRI products offered by other vendors.The move towards indigenous development of high-end medical devices is expected to have several benefits. Firstly, it will reduce the country's dependence on imports, which will help to lower costs and improve patient outcomes. Secondly, it will increase the country's self-reliance in the medical device industry, which will have a positive impact on the economy. Finally, it will create new opportunities for Indian companies to develop and manufacture high-end medical devices.Other Indigenous ProjectsThere are several other indigenous projects underway in India.A seven-member multi-disciplinary team of experts from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur is working on the development of Hridayantra, the country's first indigenously developed left ventricular assist device (LVAD). The team is also working on developing a prototype of an artificial heart, which is expected to be ready for commercialization by the end of 2027.The CDSCO's move to restrict imports of pre-owned and refurbished devices has provided a window for domestic manufacturers working under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme or their own projects. Experts believe that this move will help to drive down treatment costs and improve patient outcomes.