New Delhi: On Monday, an online portal named MedTech Mitra was launched. MedTech Mitra has been launched to help start-ups in the medtech industry facilitate their approval for innovations in the health industry. This initiative was taken by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and was also supported by NITI Aayog.
Department of Health Research in ICMR, and General Director, Dr. Rajiv Bahl, attended the event. Many dignitaries from ICMR attended the event as well.
MedTech Mitra is a health and technology platform for new startups. It provides support, collaboration, and funding for health-tech startups.
The Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare and Chemicals and Fertilizers, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, said on the virtual launch that MedTech Mitra is a platform that helps young start-ups in their research and regulatory approval. He emphasized that the medical device industry is an integral part of the healthcare sector, and 80% of its profits depended on imports earlier, but this initiative will reduce the dependence on imports from this sector. This will increase the affordability and quality of medical devices in the health industry.
Dr. Mandaviya said that this initiative will make progress in investments in medical drug parks, incentive schemes for MedTech research, and MedTech research policy.
He also said that the medical device industry is rapidly changing as sectors like AI, virtual reality, big data, robotics, and nanotechnology are developing. He is confident that by 2030, this industry will be worth 50 billion dollars in India.
Prof. S.P. Singh Bhagel stated that MedTech Mitra is a community that brings revolutionary change. He also said that it is an initiative to gather stakeholders in medical technology to partner and make progress in the healthtech industry.
Dr. V.K. Paul, a member of NITI Aayog, said that the MedTech platform increases the commitment of India to cover health services universally and increases accessibility to the innermost corners of the country to become Atmanirbhar as a part of Viksit Bharat.
Dr. Mandaviya stated that the medical device sector in India has a holistic approach to transforming the health industry by 2047.
References:
1) https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1990222
(Input from various media sources)
(Rehash/Rohini Devi)