Overview

On 22 September 2026, the Indian Medical Parliamentarians’ Forum (IMPF) convened the National Policy Summit on MedTech Access at Meril Academy in Vapi, Gujarat, under the theme “Swasth Bharat Se Saksham Bharat | Reimagining MedTech Access in India.” The summit was chaired by Dr Anil Sukhdeorao Bonde, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha and Chairperson of IMPF. Senior representatives from the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Department of Health Research, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, National Health Authority (NHA), AIIMS Nagpur and the National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC) participated, alongside MPs, healthcare institutions, clinical experts and industry stakeholders.

Panel Discussions

The summit featured two thematic panels. The first, “Building a Sustainable and Globally Competitive MedTech Ecosystem,” was chaired by Dr Shivaji Bandappa Kalge with Shri Manoj Joshi as Co‑Chair and moderated by Dr Vibhav Garg of Meril. Panelists included Prof. (Dr.) Prashant P. Joshi and Dr Neha Dumka. Discussions covered indigenous research and innovation, regulatory and quality frameworks, industry‑academia collaboration, domestic manufacturing capacity, supply‑chain resilience, clinical requirements, and the creation of an ecosystem enabling Indian MedTech firms to serve both domestic and global markets.

The second panel, “Expanding Access to Quality Care through MedTech Innovation,” was chaired by Dr Jashvantsinh Parmar and moderated by Dr Sharmila Sarkar. Panellists were Dr Gaurav Shanker Pradhan, Dr Shailesh Kumar Yadav (IAS, Joint Director, NHA) and Dr Suchita Markan. This session examined the pathway from innovation to patient access, focusing on clinical evidence, health‑technology assessment, financing and reimbursement mechanisms, technology adoption, workforce capabilities, and challenges of scaling advanced technologies across primary, secondary and tertiary care levels.

Key Statements

  • Dr Anil Sukhdeorao Bonde emphasized that “innovation without access has limited impact, and access without evidence cannot be sustained,” calling for stronger indigenous R&D, credible clinical evidence, robust health‑technology assessment and sustainable reimbursement to achieve globally competitive, affordable MedTech for every patient.
  • Shri Manoj Kumar Joshi, Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals, highlighted the need for a quality‑centric ecosystem, urging evolution of the regulatory system to meet global standards, strengthening domestic supply chains, engineering capabilities and component manufacturing to foster self‑reliance and employment.
  • Dr Prashant P. Joshi (AIIMS Nagpur) advocated for medical institutions to move beyond validation of external technologies, urging joint research, fellowships and training with engineering institutions such as IIT Bombay to address unmet clinical needs.
  • Dr Gaurav Shanker Pradhan stressed that device impact depends on clinician competency, recommending a shift from equipment‑centric to technology‑adoption models, with competency‑based training and digital/remote learning to reach underserved regions.
  • Dr Shailesh Kumar Yadav underscored linking innovation with financing, noting that under Ayushman Bharat, new interventions require credible clinical and economic evidence before inclusion in health benefit packages, and that total cost of care—not just device price—must be considered.
  • Dr Neha Dumka highlighted the importance of evaluating technologies for ease of use, cost‑effectiveness, scalability and sustainability within primary healthcare, ensuring adoption across all levels of care.
  • Dr Jashvantsinh Parmar called for systematic introduction and data‑driven evaluation of technologies, stressing acceptability among healthcare professionals and patients as critical for meaningful adoption.
  • Dr Shivaji Kalge pointed out that Indian medical device companies are increasingly capable of delivering internationally standard, affordable technologies, citing successes in ophthalmology and other specialties, and urged continued focus on research, quality and innovation to expand global acceptance.

Participants and Institutional Representation

The summit brought together senior government and institutional leaders, including Shri Manoj Kumar Joshi (Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers), representatives from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), National Health Authority (NHA), leading government medical institutions, clinical experts and key industry associations.

Conclusions

The deliberations underscored a coordinated approach that integrates indigenous innovation, evidence generation, regulatory quality, clinical education, health‑technology assessment, financing, reimbursement and institutional adoption. Emphasis was placed on connecting MedTech innovation with the needs of healthcare providers and patients, particularly in underserved areas, to achieve equitable, affordable, and high‑quality healthcare across India.