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Medical Technology Association of India (MTaI), the association of research-based medical technology companies with global experience in innovation and manufacturing in India, has sought the Centre to expedite the process of creating a policy framework for imports of refurbished medical devices into the country.
The government has suspended all imports of refurbished medical devices until the ministry of health and family welfare (MoHFW) establishes a policy framework for such imports, and if a policy is not implemented soon, it would lead to irreversible damage to the healthcare providers and workforce, said the Association.
The pre-owned medical equipment market currently constitutes around 10% of the total medical equipment industry in India, playing a critical role in meeting the growing demand in tier 2, 3, and 4 cities, as well as rural and underserved areas. These regions, where 70% of healthcare facilities are privately run small clinics, nursing homes, standalone hospitals, and diagnostic centres, rely heavily on cost-effective solutions.
Globally, even developed regions like the US and EU have a 7%-9% dependency on pre-owned medical equipment, underscoring its importance in ensuring affordable healthcare solutions. Countries like US, several European nations, Japan, the UK, Canada, South Korea, New Zealand, and Australia permit the import and sale of pre-owned medical equipment in accordance with their regulations. The pre-owned equipment industry in India is valued at Rs. 1,500 crore and supports the livelihoods of thousands of employees across its ecosystem, averred MTaI.
"If a swiftly implementable policy is not introduced soon, it could lead to irreversible damage to both healthcare providers and the workforce. In this context, it is critical for the expert committee to prioritize this matter and expedite its decision," it added.
"Currently, the import of refurbished devices remains at a standstill, posing a threat to both the healthcare system and the industry itself. To safeguard the interests of the healthcare system and the refurbished medical device sector, it is imperative that the expert committee expedites the creation of this policy and meanwhile to avoid any disruptions allowing imports through necessary approvals by DGHS and MoEFCC," it elaborated in a press statement.
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